Read
(A prayer by David.)
A Prayer for Help
1Please listen, Lord,
and answer my prayer!
I am poor and helpless.
2Protect me and save me
because you are my God.
I am your faithful servant,
and I trust you.
3Be kind to me!
I pray to you all day.
4Make my heart glad!
I serve you,
and my prayer is sincere.
5You willingly forgive,
and your love is always there
for those who pray to you.
6Please listen, Lord!
Answer my prayer for help.
7When I am in trouble, I pray,
knowing you will listen.
8No other gods are like you;
only you work miracles.
9 You created each nation,
and they will all bow down
to worship and honor you.
10You perform great wonders
because you alone are God.
11Teach me to follow you,
and I will obey your truth.
Always keep me faithful.
12With all my heart I thank you.
I praise you, Lord God.
13Your love for me is so great
that you protected me
from death and the grave.
14Proud and violent enemies,
who don't care about you,
have ganged up to attack
and kill me.
15But you, the Lord God,
are kind and merciful.
You don't easily get angry,
and your love
can always be trusted.
16I serve you, Lord,
and I am the child
of one of your servants.
Look on me with kindness.
Make me strong and save me.
17Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies
will feel like fools,
because you have helped
and comforted me.
Reflect
As we read the life of David, we are made aware that he was often attacked by his enemies and often on the run for his life. Psalm 86 is David’s prayer in a time of great trial. His violent enemies have conspired to kill him. While many of us may never know this level of threat, still we have times of desperation and can discern much from him. What do we do when we are hard pressed, threatened or under attack?
David teaches us that it is good for us to admit our inability to handle our own situations. It is a good thing for us to admit we are helpless without the Lord (see Matthew 5:3). It is from the place of weakness that we call upon him who is our refuge. What does David pray? Lord listen, answer me, save me, protect me, comfort me, and make my heart glad.
We will pray with this kind of desperation and confidence when we know the depth of our need and the height of God’s greatness. David tells us that he alone is the Creator of all things, the miracle working God. He is kind and his “love can always be trusted” (v 15).
Are you quick to admit your need? Are you quick to turn to the Lord in confident trusting prayer? What words of David do you need to pray today?
Respond
Merciful God, our refuge and strength, there is none like you. You alone are God! We pray, knowing you listen and will answer us. We turn to you in confident hope and faith. We admit our need of your protection, salvation, and blessing. Rescue us from our enemies. Help us to faithfully follow you as your grateful and dependent children. Amen.
Jody Cross
Dr. Jody Cross is a worship pastor, recording artist, author and worship ministry consultant. His passion is to glorify God by developing leaders, equip worship teams and lead God’s people in worship. Jody has released a book on worship and justice, This Is Our Love and has produced two award winning worship albums. Jody serves as Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church in Orillia, Ontario. Jody is married to Alexandra. They have four teenage children. Publications: This Is Our Love: Engaging a Broken World Through Worship CD’s: Forward To Forever Rekindle Rejoice: Christmas Worship