Prayer and Praise in the Psalms

Prayer and Praise in the Psalms

Don’t you just love the psalms? 

David’s prayers were this beautiful mixture of pleading and praise and wonder at who God is.  We could learn a lot from David’s prayers. 

If you find yourself struggling to know how to pray try joining David in one of his psalms.

Let’s just take a quick look together at Psalm 86.

‘Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.’

Already David acknowledges how high God is and his own need.

Are you poor and needy, is your soul longing for God to stoop down and listen to your cries?

‘Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.’

David goes on to acknowledge his need to be kept, his holiness, (his set apartness for God) and his trust in God.

Even when things seem dark spiritually we can still trust God. We can trust Him to keep us, to help us and we can trust in who God is.

Now he pleads for mercy and tells God why He should have mercy on him.  For he’s daily (or throughout the day) crying out unto the Lord in prayer.

‘Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.’

He longs to have that rejoicing in his soul and lifts his soul up to God.

Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

How can he so confidently look to God?

He goes on to tell us why…

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.’

David trusts in who God is, he trusts in His plenteous mercy. Will you trust Him dear soul even when you can’t see Him or feel Him near?

‘Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.’

Yes He will dear soul, He will turn again and turn your sorrow, your trouble, into joy, true joy, that deep, soul joy that can come over all our circumstances and fill our hearts with peace whatever our physical circumstances may look like.

So keep leaning in, keep praying, keep trusting. And if you have a moment read the rest of Psalm 86 and see who David knew God to be and know that He is unchanging and still the same today. 

Ps 86:1-7

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