Psalms 86
Bible Passage: Psalm 86
New Year, New Beginnings
First of all I would like to wish everyone a happy new year! There’s something about a new year and a fresh start that gets me thinking about what I can improve on in my life. To be honest though, I start out with good intentions but somehow along the way those resolutions went to a box stuffed to the back of my head.
Today’s reading helped me reflect on the resolutions I set for myself in 2012. These are still ongoing resolutions for me in the new year.
Resolution #1 – Pray & Pray & Pray
Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.
The first verse of this psalm shows the psalmist’s urgent and earnest plea for God to hear him. The second part of this verse shows the psalmist’s humility. He acknowledges that he is poor and needy, and only God can help him.
Today we are blessed with the riches of this world, but in contrast, are we poor in spirit, and needy of God’s mercy?
Initially do we pray diligently, but stop praying when nothing seems to happen?
Before we pray, do we humble ourselves before our Lord, or are we puffed up with self-righteous indignation?
During difficult times which test our faiths, do we even bother to pray at all?
As long as we come before Him with a humble and pure heart seeking Him, seeking His will, He will surely be pleased with our prayers and hear our cries. At times it is difficult for our prayers to sustain, when things are still not improving. But sometimes it takes a storm for us to seek a hiding place and an anchor. As long as we commit ourselves to God, our prayers will not be in vain.
We ought to have faith in God’s goodness, and we have to keep praying.
Resolution #2 – God’s way is the best way
Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth;
Here David asks God to teach him His way. He acknowledges that God’s way is the best way, not his own. He knows he is limited, and hence is willing to submit to God’s will.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8
Similarly, although we do not know what lies ahead, He is in perfect control. For most of us we pray for guidance and deliverance from our troubles. It is also important to pray for God to teach us His way, to teach us the lessons we ought to learn from these.
All things will work together as long as we have faith in His perfect will and walk on His way.
4 Comments
CWT
v2 ” preserve my life, for I an holy” why does David say that he is holy? Wouldn’t it suggest self righteousness?
I like
“sometimes it takes a storm for us to seek a hiding place and an anchor”
lim
other version might give some clue to verse 2,
1. New International Version 1984, “Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.”.
2. English Standard Version, “Preserve my life, for I am godly;save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.”
3. New Century Version, “Protect me, because I worship you.My God, save me, your servant who trusts in you.”
4. Contemporary English Version, “Protect me and save me because you are my God.I am your faithful servant,and I trust you.”
WT
Oh , so “godly” may also refer to one who belongs /worship God, who is holy.
Biblereader
Actually none of us is holy as in God’s holiness (or standard of holiness). We are holy because of God’s cleansing power of our sins. We are sanctified and justified through the blood of Jesus. Our sins are forgiven because we have come before this throne of grace in humility.
David is one who is humble and is one who constantly draw near to God be it in good times or bad. That is why he can be considered holy just as we are considered holy in God’s eyes.