Psalm 86

I received a beautiful English & Spanish Bible for Christmas in Honduras. I just opened it up and found some scripture that really spoke to me and that I wanted to share.

Psalm 86 (NIV) says,“¹ Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. ² Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. ³ Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. ⁴ Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. ⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who all to you. ⁶ Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. ⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. ⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, O lord; no deeds can compare with yours. ⁹ All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. ¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. ¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. ¹² I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. ¹³ For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. ¹⁴ The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life – men without regard for you. ¹⁵ But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. ¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. ¹⁷ Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me".

I’ve found myself being very troubled the past few days. My heart is heavy. I have so many questions, and I simply don’t have all of the answers. I am so thankful that that I have a God who hears my every cry, counts my every tear, and knows my every thought. He knows it all, and He strengthens me when I’m weak. Oftentimes, He uses others to help do it, which is pretty awesome when you really think about it.

Before I left for Honduras, and while I was there, I asked God to open my eyes. He is definitely doing it. He let me see things in Honduras that I never thought I would see. Now that I’m home, He’s showing me more things; many of which are within myself. He’s letting me recognize my strengths, but he’s also letting me realize my weaknesses. I have a lot of work to do!

I want to learn to have His kind of strength and love. I yearn for Him to teach me. I want to see as He sees. I want my heart to break for what breaks His. My prayer tonight is that I become more like Him: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. Please pray that I become all that He wants me to be. That I become someone that He can use. That I will clearly hear and answer any call He places on my life. Be blessed!