19/06/2023
Perhaps the most universal prayer ever uttered is the prayer for help. David knew that the God he served listened to the cries of the downtrodden and bereft.
Devotional Excerpt from the Upper Room Disciplines
Monday l June 19, 2023
Author: Lindsey Krinks
Read: Psalm 86:1-7, 16-17
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;
3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.
PROVISIONS IN THE WILDERNESS
We all experience seasons of life that wring us out. These are times of wilderness where we tread through tangles of uncertainty, pain, frustration, and loss. Seeds of desolation take root in our spirits. We wonder where our help will come from, David, the author of Psalm 86, was no stranger to dark times. He knew that the most powerful tools he had for perseverance were his prayers and his relentless trust in God's faithfulness.
Perhaps the most universal prayer ever uttered is the prayer for help. David knew that the God he served listened to the cries of the downtrodden and bereft.
God heard the cries of the Israelites in their bo***ge.
God heard the cries of David as he fled for his life.
God hears the cries of God's people.
And today, God hears our cries too.
One of the most compelling features about the book of Psalms is that each prayer offers us words when our own words fail. Each prayer reminds us that God invites our vulnerability and welcomes every emotion we feel. So let us lean into the psalmist's words today.