Daily Devotional – May 8-14
May 8 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. Here is the passage for the week:
Psalm 86:1-4, Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
Prayer: “Father, I need Your help. Please hear my prayer because I find myself in great need. Put Your hedge of protection around my life for I trust in You and am faithfully following You. Save me from my troubles. You alone are my God. I continually pray and ask for Your mercy. May Your answer bring me joy once again as I put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
May 9 – Meditating on God’s Word
Psalm 86:1, Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
In order to help us think and pray upon these words, we will use the pattern of the W.O.R.D. I will offer my example, but you will want to do this exercise for yourself.
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words. This puts the word into your hand, head, and heart.)
“Listen to my prayer, Lord, and answer me because I am poor and needy.”
Observe what it is saying. (Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
This psalm was written by David. He was in trouble because others were trying to kill him. Even if he was king when he wrote this, he knew he was in great need of help. All of his wealth couldn’t save him. He was in poverty without God’s resources. So, he pleaded with the Lord to hear his prayer and answer him accordingly.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
Regardless of our earthly resources, we should see ourselves as poor and needy without God’s help and intervention. This mindset puts us in a humble place of trust and dependency.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Lord, I want to go on record today, that I acknowledge I am poor and needy without You. I need Your help and Your heavenly resources to succeed. Please come to my aid. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
May 10 – Meditating on God’s Word
Psalm 86:2, Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.
Write out the Scripture.
“Guard my life, for I am faithful to You; save me, Your servant, who trusts in You.”
Observe what it is saying.
David has already admitted his need. He is poor and needy. Now, he asks God to protect and to save him. Later in the psalm we discover, he is being pursued. He literally needs to be saved from death. He reminds God that He is faithful and is trusting in Him to do so.
Relate it to your life.
My life may not be pursued by an enemy who wants to kill me, but I know the Enemy is pursuing me and wants to destroy me spiritually. I, too, need to be vigilant in my faith and trust in asking God to guard my life and rescue me from temptation and life’s many trials.
Do something.
“Father, I’m being pursued by Satan, who is known to steal, kill, and destroy. Send the armies of heaven to protect me. Rescue me from alluring temptations. Deliver me from evil. Amen.”
May 11 – Meditating on God’s Word
Psalm 86:2, Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;
Write out the Scripture.
“You are my God;”
Observe what it is saying.
David prays to be protected and saved by God because He is not just any god, but He is David’s God. He has a relationship with God. He gladly tells all that this God is his God. He has experienced Him throughout his life so David knows He is trustworthy.
Relate it to your life.
When I know God as my God, then I know He is good. I know I am loved. I know I can trust Him so I gladly go to Him seeking the help I need in my life.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for not just being Lord of the universe but being my God. Thank You that I can experience You, love You, and trust You. I ask that I will be aware of Your presence, protection and help in my life today. Amen.”
May 12 – Meditating on God’s Word
Psalm 86:3, have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
Write out the Scripture.
“have mercy on me, Lord, for I pray to you all day long.”
Observe what it is saying.
David did what the Apostle Paul called upon us all to do, “pray continually.” David’s life was a running, non-stop prayer. Such a prayer life humbles ourselves before God in recognition of our weakness and reveals our utter dependence upon God’s mercy for all things.
Relate it to your life.
Developing a heart that prays continually reveals my attitude of life that I’m totally dependent on the Lord for His help and mercy.
Do something.
“Father, may my life be a running prayer. May my mind and heart be continually conscious of You, giving thanks and praise, calling out for Your mercy to be extended to me. Amen.”
May 13 – Meditating on God’s Word
Psalm 86:4, Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
Write out the Scripture.
“Bring joy to me, your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.”
Observe what it is saying.
In the midst of difficult circumstances, like David found himself with his enemies trying to kill him, it is quite understandable how joy could be diminished. David pleads for this joy to return into his life. He tells the Lord that he is putting his trust in Him. He knows the true source of joy is in God, not in the circumstances of life.
Relate it to your life.
I need to remember that God is the source of my joy, not the experiences or the circumstances that I find myself in. As Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
Do something.
“Father, I choose to trust in You as the source of my joy. This world can leave me wanting for so much more because life keeps changing. However, You remain the same. I can count on You. I can trust that You are my true joy. Fill me anew with Your Spirit so that joy may be mine. Amen.”