A Prayer of Praise & Petitions

Psalm 86 (ESV)

¹ 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.
¹⁰ For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.
¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    unite my heart to fear your name.
¹² I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

¹⁴ O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.
¹⁵ But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant,
    and save the son of your maidservant.
¹⁷ Show me a sign of your favor,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Lessons in Prayer from the Psalmist David

If you’re a disciple seeking to find what the Lord is teaching you, consider these lessons from Psalm 86.

1. Come before the Lord with humility, like David did as a servant before God his master.
2. Come before the Lord with a united heart, having confessed your sins and your less than worthy motives.
3. Pray continually as you walk with him through the day knowing God’s love for you is steadfast.
4. Mix your petitions with praise and thanksgiving, for that strengthens and vocalizes your faith as you are praying.
5. Remember the miracles your Lord has done, so that you might mix your faith with the limitless power of God with your prayer requests.
6. Trust God’s character so that you can pray with confidence according to what you have learned of his person and values.
7. As you talk to the Lord and praise him, he strengthens you even in the midst of the struggle.
8. Keep praying until God answers and delivers you from your enemies, whoever and whatever they may be.