Six Simple Pleas Found in Psalm 86 to Change Us
We are currently studying the idea of praying scripture. I personally pray Psalm 86 every morning, and in my blog lately, I share how I use this Psalm to lead me in prayer. Week one, we examined Psalm 86’s background and learned it is a psalm of lament and faith. Week two, we journeyed through verses one through five and I discussed how God taught me to be transparent with Him. Last week we looked at verses six through ten and I shared how we must pray with our eyes and heart focused on who God is.
Prayer Changes Us
Billy Graham once said, “Before prayer changes others, it first changes us.” I have learned the truth of that statement by praying Psalm 86. The power of allowing the psalmist’s lament to guide my own concerns has brought me to the power of God over and over. God reminds me of His grace and goodness every day as I pray these seventeen verses. Holy Spirit listens to my lament, guides me to seek His truth, and shapes me in the image of Christ.
Holy Spirit revealed I hold a somewhat skewed view of prayer. I understand I am free to ask God for anything and everything. However, I believed appropriate or “good” prayer can’t just be about asking. I assume if I just ask God for something, I am not praying correctly.
Ask, Seek, Knock
I am currently studying the Sermon on the Mount with the help of the Bible Project. In the Sermon on the Mount podcast series, episode thirty-two, Tim Mackie states that in Matthew 7:7, the ask, seek, knock statement is about prayer. He and Jon Collins go on to talk about how Jesus invites His disciples to view God the Father as He does and relate to God in the way that He does.
God wants to provide what we need, and He wants us to ask. We want a prayer flow chart where if we do A, B, C, then we receive what we desire. Jesus urges us into a relationship with God where we learn to depend more and more on the presence of God instead of just getting what we want. We must drop the idea that prayer is a transactional event. Instead, we must hold the concept that prayer, our asking, seeking, and knocking, is a conduit for communing with our Almighty God.
As I studied the Sermon on the Mount, and prayed Psalm 86, I realized the psalmist provides many opportunities to ask God for something. This week, we will examine Psalm 86:11-13. In these three verses, Holy Spirit revealed to me six pleas we can bring to God.
Six Pleas in Psalm 86:10-13
“11Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.”
Psalm 86:10-13, NIV
Teach Me Your Way
The first plea is “Teach me your Way.” We must grasp that we can’t decipher God’s truth on our own. God’s way is beyond what we can understand. Just like Adam and Eve, our understanding is limited, and we define good differently than God.
The word translated “way” is the Greek word “derek.” It means way, road, distance, journey, manner. Also, direction, habit, course of life, or mode of action. I want God to give me a series of steps to follow, clearly outlined, with specifics to enable to stay on course. When I read the definition of “derek,” I see more of a general directive. Perhaps a simple road sign with just an arrow pointing in an approximate direction.
Jesus often spoke to His disciples in parables and riddles, challenging them to stretch their thinking. What makes us think He speaks to us any differently? Jesus wants us to invest in a relationship with Him, not follow a check list or flow chart. He wants us to enter into continual conversation.
When we plead with God to teach us, we are asking Him to reveal who He is. We are seeking to understand how He would respond to people in different circumstances. In addition, we are knocking on doors to discover where He would lead us next. We converse and commune with God so that we learn how we live out this Kingdom journey.
Enable Me to Know Truth
The second plea is “Keep your Truth in the forefront of my heart and mind.” We demonstrate love to God through obedience (John 14:15). If we want to experience the type of relationship the Psalmist had with God, we must choose to obey the directives God lays out before us.
Since moving to the Saint Louis area, my sweet Pastor husband and I have become very reliant on Google maps. We have quickly learned when we get into deep conversations while driving the various interstates, we tend to miss our exit. To arrive at our destination in the quickest time, while traveling the most direct route, we must remain focused on the information Google provides us.
Just as my sweet Pastor husband and I lean into Google maps, we contemplate God’s Truth so we clearly see where we are headed. When we focus on God’s truth, we become better equipped to ask effective clarifying questions. Plus, we place ourselves in a more teachable posture.
Help Me Dwell in Truth
The third plea is “Help me dwell in your Truth.” Psalm 86:11 actually states, “I will walk in your truth.” I find the word dwell provides a better picture of how I am to actually live.
The word translated truth is the Greek word, “emet.” “Emet” means firmness, faithfulness, truth, sureness, reliability, stability, continuance, testimony, judgement, and/or divine instruction. In the past, I perceived walking in truth as something I am to do, and I can easily get it wrong.
As I pondered the definition, I saw that the various words describe the characteristics of God. I understand I am to be faithful and follow God’s commands reliably. However, I am only able to live faithfully obedient when I rely on the power and presence of Holy Spirit. I don’t just walk in truth; I dwell in the Truth of who God is and I commune with Him.
For example, when I dwell in the truth that God listens to me and answers me, I respond to circumstances differently. If I don’t know the next step I am to take, I pause and ask God for direction. I choose not to step forward until I sense Holy Spirit’s go-ahead. Or, if someone hurts my feelings and I’m feeling frustrated or angry, I don’t immediately respond. I make time to sit with Jesus and process why I’m feeling the way I am. I ask questions like ‘Should I offer grace?’ or ‘Did I do something to create this circumstance?’
Give Me an Undivided Heart
The fourth plea is “Give me an undivided heart.” I pray this plea more than any other. Holy Spirit often points out to me I am looking out for my own selfish comfort and/or affirmation.
There are several stories in the Bible that reveal an undivided heart. Gideon’s heart was undivided when he bravely fought the enemy with a small army equipped with torches and trumpets. Daniel’s heart was also undivided as he prayed every day even though it was against the law. In the New Testament, Paul was undivided as he endured prison but never neglected preaching the gospel.
We can also find stories that display a divided heart. Samson’s heart was divided when he sought to please Delilah while trying to maintain commitment to his Nazarite vow. Peter had moments that revealed he struggled with a divided heart. He sank in the Sea of Galilee when he took his eyes off Jesus. Peter rebuked Jesus when He stated He would suffer and die in Jerusalem. Jesus responded to Peter with “Get behind me Satan.” In addition, there is the familiar story of Peter denying Jesus three times.
We all struggle with a divided heart at times. No one finds following Jesus easy. Holy Spirit leads me to pray specific things when I read this plea from Psalm 86. Holy Spirit prompted me to ask God to enable me to see lies as lies and not believe them. For example, I prayed I wouldn’t believe the lies I am not valuable, I’m not good enough, or I’ve messed everything up. Holy Spirit also led me to pray protection from fear, depression, and a complaining attitude so that my heart remained wholly focused on God.
Open My Eyes
The fifth plea is “Open my eyes to your goodness.” In Psalm 86:12, the psalmist declares he will praise God. As I admitted in week two of this series, I currently struggle to experience and express joy and praise. I ask God to enable me to see His promised goodness so that I can express gratitude, because gratitude leads to praise.
In our American culture, we too easily claim, “I did it.” We believe we can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, make do, and survive. We even have the audacity to believe we make things better.
Earlier in Psalm 86, we learn the following things about God. Our God is like no other. Our God does the incomparable. God is the creator of all nations. He is worthy of worship and glory. He is great and His deeds are marvelous. Our God is the one and only GOD. Only He can make things better.
To say it another way, God is our provider; we do not provide for ourselves. When we identify God’s daily goodness to us, we rewire our brains to believe He is good, and that we can truly depend on Him. The more we depend, the more our spirits recognize God’s goodness, the more we praise from a heart of thankfulness.
Don’t Let Me Forget
The sixth and final plea is “Don’t let me forget what you’ve done for me.” In the NIV, the psalmist declares that God has delivered him from “the depths of the grave.” The CSB states, “you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol.” The Amplified version adds the clarifying addition of “[from death].”
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and redeemed. We no longer have the punishment of death awaiting us for our sins. Jesus has paid our debt through His death and resurrection. We must remember we have been rescued from darkness deeper than we can imagine. Jesus gifts us life and light for eternity.
However, Christ has also rescued many of us from the darkness of depression, loneliness, poverty, addiction, hatred, insecurity, self-sufficiency, pride, and more. We must go back to the truth of who God is. We must dwell in His truth, and number His goodness to us.
God is the Answer
When we pray scripture, we see truth about the life God wants for us. God wants to be the answer to every question. He wants to fill any need. He desires to be our provider, protector, and personal friend ~ always. Moment by moment. Jesus Himself tells us to ask, seek, and knock. So come to the Father and lay your requests before Him. He is waiting and He is good.
Praying Scripture Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Good morning Nancy! I am praying Psalms 86 today, which has been so powerful. Appreciate you and your encouragement to pursue Christ.
I’m so thankful praying Psalm 86 was a powerful experience for you! I continue to truly appreciate praying this psalm.