December 9
________________________________________
PSALM 86 A PLEA FOR GRACE TO A MERCIFUL AND LOVING GOD
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. – Psalm 86:1-9
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Have pity on me, a sinful servant of yours who is poor and needy
I ask you to come to my aide as I live in these worldly and corrupt systems
We are surrounded by so much deceit, lies, control and hunger for power
Come to our aide O Lord, we have served you faithfully, give us deliverance.
Grant me your grace so that in times of trial, I’ll remember to run to your throne
If you haven’t chosen me, I will always be sinful, you cleansed me O Lord!
You are the one true God and no other gods are like you, who is righteous
I plead you to hear my prayer so that I can walk in the way of the godly.
Forgive me when I am influenced by culture, traditions and human knowledge
Keep my eyes on your wisdom instead of the mindsets that are worldly
Give me a discerning mind and heart to see the subtleties of lies in our culture
Help me to walk with your Spirit amidst the unseen tactics generated by the devil.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it so important for us to plead God for mercy and grace especially given what is going on in our world today?
• How does the psalmist go about with his prayer? Why is praise an essential ingredient in our prayer?