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March 7, 2024

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Hear, O Lord... Guard My Life... Have Mercy on Me

"Hear, O Lord, and answer me: for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long." Psalm 86:1-3

The effectiveness of our prayers depends largely on our perspective of the majesty of God, our concept of WHO GOD IS, and our understanding in knowing who we are before Him. Acknowledging our utter dependence upon Him, our faith in His unchanging character, and our confidence in knowing He loves and cares for us will give Him free access to manifest His plan and purpose in our lives.

As we grow in grace and in an abiding companionship with Him, we will experience the excellence of a life in communion with Him, where our thoughts and actions are in the "attitude of prayer," and our walk with Him becomes a life of sacrifice and praise, adoration and worship. We shall know what David experienced, abiding "under the shadow of the Almighty," walking in the consciousness of His presence, and experiencing the path of life with Him as our divine guide.

A popular Christian song says, "God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind...so when you can't trace His hand, trust His heart."

"In the day of trouble, I will call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me. Teach me thy way, O Lord" (Psalm 86:7,11). Isn't it interesting to observe that David desired to be "taught" in the way of God? He recognized his own inability and his own limitations in knowing God's way, and he sought for God to reveal "the way" to him. This required of him a receptive spirit and a responsive heart.

The servant of God will be sustained, preserved, kept, and upheld in life's circumstances as he earnestly prays and abides in Him. The servant's "path and service" must come from the servant's Lord. His way and will can be ascertained only by His Word and through prayer. God said, "I will teach thee in the way thou shall go, I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:8).

David cried out to God in the midst of his troubles, "Teach me thy way, O Lord! I will walk in thy truth. Unite my heart to fear thee." Frustrated, confused, weary, pursued by Saul, David was stirred up to a greater desire after God. He was determined to seek God with all of his heart. He wanted his spirit to be united in oneness with Him. So often we are guilty of countless diversions that distract, spoil, dilute, and affect our positive pursuit in our walk with God. May the Lord deliver us from entanglements with meaningless endeavors. We must pursue with singleness of heart and purpose if we are to be led in His way and His will.

There are two requisites for an acceptable walk with the Lord. First, we may know His way by an illumination of our mind. Secondly, our walk must be focused on Christ. He will not honor or guide a divided heart. There is a singleness of heart (Acts 2:46) that is indispensable to walking rightly with God and being led by Him. Oh that we might cry to the Lord, that we may be taught the way of His will and purpose for us! Our responsibility is to walk in obedience; the results are His responsibility. Dare to trust and obey!

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-03-07


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