5 Days of Prayer - Day 2

Psalm 86

A Prayer of David

“Dear Jesus, Thank you for this day, thank you...”  Sometimes prayer can seem pretty repetitious.  We have a tendency to start our prayers similarly, to pray similar things, to ask things that God has pretty much promised already.  Yet, as we read this prayer it is not so different, at the beginning, from the prayer from day 1.  Certainly there are different expressions here but in general we see a pleading for God to hear, a declaration of pure/holy actions and intentions and an assurance that God will listen and answer. There is a difference between vain repetition and repeated prayer.  As David starts on familiar and solid ground he then branches out to encompass worship, reliance and request based on his need, experience and faith.  Hear us, bow down Your ear, we trust in You for You are good and ready, forgiving and abundant in mercy.  You will answer.

David is moved to consider this God to whom he cries out.  We also consider along with the psalmist who God is, and what He is like.  No other like you!  No work like your work!  You are so great that all will worship before You.

This is God, worthy of proclamation.  Look at the great things that He has done for David.

• Great mercy toward him
• soul delivered from death - the grave, hell
• full of grace and compassion, patient, abundant mercy and truth - even to those who refuse.

David wants God.  He wants these things that God has given Him in abundance. He wants them for himself but he also wants others to see.  He says, “Teach me your ways... unite my heart to fear Your name.”  He connects that with glorifying God’s name.  He connects with a personal testimony of what God has done for him.  Then he asked God to show a sign.  It is not for himself.  It is for those that have refused God, who have not “set God before them”.  He wants them to realize their wrong.  It is our wrongs, our foolishness that we are ashamed of, however how often those things can be ignored or pushed off.  David wished that people would know the God that he knew and be ashamed of their failure to turn to Him. To find the same mercy, compassion, long suffering and salvation that David knew.  The same peace with God.

Of course these are things that we also have experienced from the hand of God.  Like David our prayer should rise, not only for our own salvation or blessing but, for the realization of others the compassion mercy and patient love of God for all people.  “Teach me Your ways ... I will walk in Your truth ... I will glorify Your name...”  May we be taught that we may walk and proclaim the ways of God for His glory.  May our lives be a good sign.  As a result may many know the help and comfort of God!

Please pray...

1 God would be proclaimed - that He would prepared hearts for Himself

2 Spiritual strongholds and barriers removed

3 wisdom concerning a place to meet, provision for that place

4 preaching/teaching to be in the Spirit's power