86:7 Sometimes our trouble or pain is so great that all we can do is cry out to God, “Preserve my soul” or “Protect me” (86:2). And often, when there is no relief in sight, all we can do is acknowledge the greatness of God and wait for better days ahead. The conviction that God answers prayer will sustain us in such difficult times.
86:8-10 The God of the Bible is unique! He is alive and able to do mighty deeds for those who love him. All human-created deities are powerless because they are merely inventions of the mind, not living beings. The Lord alone is “worthy . . . to receive glory and honour and power” (Revelation 4:11). Although people believe in many gods, you need never fear that God is only one among many or that you may be worshiping the wrong God. The Lord alone is God.
86:11-14 This prayer within a prayer captures a glimpse of vibrant spiritual vitality. Two requests are made: “teach me thy way” and “unite my heart.” Each request has a God-centered purpose: that the person praying would “walk in thy truth” and “fear thy name.” No matter how well we know and follow God, we can always ask him to increase our awareness and improve our obedience. Jesus echoed one of these requests in the sixth beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Commit this prayer to memory and use it often.
86:17 It is right to pray for a sign of God’s favor. As David found, it may be just what we need. But let us not overlook the signs he has already given: the support of family and friends, the fellowship of other Christians, the light of each new day. And we can be confident that he knows our situation no matter how desperate it becomes, and he cares.