Psalm 86:11-17 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 86:11-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
Verse 12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Verse 13For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Verse 14O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
Verse 15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Verse 16Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl.
Verse 17Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Devotion
“I can do it myself!”
Asserting independence and becoming self-sufficient are a normal, healthy part of growing up. But another part is realizing just what our limitations are, and how we need each other, especially when life gets hard.
Can we do it alone – face illness, humiliation, frustration, despair? The psalmist says no. Even as he extols God’s power, he begs God to help him deal with the troubles in his life.
Look around you. What do you see as the greatest challenges dragging you down today? Worries about the economy? A relationship that isn’t what it should be? Physical pain? A career that didn’t turn out quite the way you thought?
Sometimes it takes realizing just what we’re up against to turn us back to God – the God who is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (v. 15). With God, we never have to worry about doing it all ourselves.
Prayer
Teach me to walk in your way, O Lord, that I might be fully dependent on you as I live my life today. Amen.