Get with the strength
Listen to me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am helpless and weak.
Save me from death, because I am loyal to you;
save me, for I am your servant and I trust in you.
You are my God, so be merciful to me;
I pray to you all day long. (verses 1-3)
Read Psalm 86:1-10,16,17
When we feel vulnerable, weak, or on dangerous ground, there is no shortage of modern help. We can take a course in self-esteem , listen to motivational tapes, consult a counsellor or even read the abundant advice in popular magazines. David, to whom the words of this psalm are attributed, had none of these things. He turned to prayer.
That would be good advice for us too. There is real power in talking directly to God, and not only because of the therapy involved. He has greater ability to help us than anyone, and he has promised to do so.
As the Scriptures point out in many places, feeling weak and threatened is a kind of gift. It makes us realise that we cannot rely on ourselves, and so it turns us to God. And it is at this point that we discover true strength, not in shallow delusions about our own might, but in God himself and the faith and trust we put in him as we take hold of his promises.
Dear God, thank you for being available at all times, especially in my deepest and darkest hours. Give me the strength that comes only from your Spirit. Amen.
by Richard Hauser, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)
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