How you doin? I was watching Bethel TV and Bill Johnson opened a worship service by reading a couple verses from Psalm 86. Of course the verses he read drew my attention to this Psalm. In my desire to know how to pray, I certainly look to David for a model. Psalm 86 is an amazing prayer.
Verses 1-4, "Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
2 Preserve my [a]soul, for I am a godly man;
O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry all day long.
4 Make glad the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul."
For I am afflicted and needy.
2 Preserve my [a]soul, for I am a godly man;
O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry all day long.
4 Make glad the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul."
I love how David prays for his soul as though it's very separate from the rest of him. I think it's because David knew his spirit was seal by God and his heart was set on God, but his soul was flawed. There are several prayers where David prays for his soul like I would pray for another person. Certainly something to think about.
Verses 11-14, "Teach me Your way, O Lord;I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,
And You have delivered my soul from the [c]depths of [d]Sheol."
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,
And You have delivered my soul from the [c]depths of [d]Sheol."
The footnote for (d) is, "I.e. the nether world". I love verse 11. There's something about walking in truth. Truth to me is vital. Truth protects me from lies. Truth protects me from being caught up in religion and human tradition. I love how David prays this as a declaration. "I will walk in Your truth". That's not a soft prayer.
Verses 15-17, "But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and [g]truth.
16 Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Oh grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,Because You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me."
Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and [g]truth.
16 Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Oh grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,Because You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me."
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! God refers to David as a man after His own heart. (Acts 13:22 & 1 Samuel 13:14) The thing I noticed the most about David's prayers is that he prays about and for the promises of God. 2 Samuel 7:13-16, "
He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [a]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’”
David knew God on a personal level. As flawed as he was, he walked in the truth of the promises of God. Declaring God's promises in prayer brings them into a place where they become a reality. God's promises are truth. He doesn't promise anything He's not willing to deliver. He doesn't promise anything He can't deliver. God's promises are truth. Psalm 89:19-37 is an amazing Scripture of God's promise and relationship to David. God states His "lovingkindness" for David three times in that passage. David speaks of God's "lovingkindness" three times in Psalm 86. David knew God in his heart and spirit. David lifted his soul up to God in prayer. I can't imagine how David felt when he did things wrong. I can't image the civil war that brewed in him. The conflict between his spirit and soul. David walked in the truth of God's promises. As flawed as he was, it was the knowledge and belief of God's truth/promises that kept him in good relationship with God.
Keep in mind that David lived under the old covenant and didn't have the Holy Ghost in him. We live under the new covenant with the Holy Ghost in us. It's possible for us to be righteous and without blemish. Our civil war has been won. The Spirit in us is connected to our spirit. Our souls should be saved and freed by the Spirit. Walking in the truth/promises of God is a vital part of following Jesus. Receive God's abundant lovingkindness and truth today.
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