Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Thought for 31 January



 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

Today’s reading along with the rest of Psalm 86 is essentially David showing us what a sincere prayer to God looks like.
 
In our verse, David acknowledges the goodness of God and that our God is essentially a God of love.  David also recognises that him, as well as ourselves, requires forgiveness for all the times that we fall short of being good and following the Lord’s commandments.  Finally, David teaches us that we need to give God a place in our lives and speak to him.  If we don’t ask God for his help, why should he bother with us?  All this from one short verse and 22 words.

This chapter begins with the words ‘Bend down O Lord and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.’  I really like this because it sort of humanises the act of prayer.  It is as if David is talking to a God whom he needs to come a little closer so that he can hear every word of his prayer and maybe even so that no one else can.  David knows that God is there because if he didn’t, he might have begun the prayer with the words; ‘if you are there’ but he didn’t and whatever he is asking, he obviously believes that God is the only one who can genuinely help him.

So what is there to learn from this?  The ultimate lesson and bigger picture that encompasses the entire psalm is, “Our great needs should drive us to pray to the great God, who alone can deliver us.” God is the only one who has control over the world that we live in. No matter how hard we wish, the Lord is the only one who can really provide us with the strength and hope to get where we yearn to be. Once we all learn to put God first, then everything else will fall into place. All in all, God is the key to everything.

Throughout the entirety of Psalm 86, David gives glory to God. He praises Him throughout the prayer in the most humble and reverent adoration. Throughout everything he never takes away from God’s greatness or infinite greatness. Furthermore, he identifies his infinite goodness as well.

We all need the salvation of the Lord. There are so many trials and tribulations within the world therefore it is imperative that we pray to God for mercy and allow Him to help lead us away from temptation.

Prayer             Our Lord and our God, we thank you for life itself.  Help us take time away from all the other things that are going on in our lives just to spend time talking to you, thanking you for all the blessings you have given us and asking for your intervention to guide us and help us through the difficult situations that we all experience.     Amen   

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