Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
New Revised Standard Version
A Prayer of David.
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
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 day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.
7 In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will 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 bow down 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;
give me an undivided heart to revere 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, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians 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;
save the child of your serving girl.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Reflect
I root for two football teams—the Tennessee Titans and the Green Bay Packers. At the time I wrote this, both teams were doing well. If the two ever played each other, I would have a divided heart. I might find myself cheering for both teams. Yet, ultimately, I would be for the Packers since they have been my team since I was a very young boy.
This Psalm got me to thinking about a divided heart. How often is our spiritual distress caused by a divided heart. David was praying for an undivided heart. In verse 11, David is asking God to teach him God’s ways. He says he wants to walk in the truth. “Give me an undivided heart to revere Your name.” We all need an undivided heart. We need our whole heart focused on the Lord. Perhaps that should be our mantra: “Teach me Your ways, so I can walk in the truth and revere You with my whole heart.” David had his flaws, but he certainly seemed to revere the Lord with His whole heart. I long for and pray for an undivided heart. Hopefully, I am maturing in my faith and am slowly removing some of the other things that cause me to have a divided heart. I want to be like David and give thanks to God with my whole heart.
Pray
Oh, Lord, teach me Your ways, guide me in the truth, help me to have an undivided heart. I want to worship You with my whole heart. I want to praise You with my whole heart. I want to serve You with my whole heart. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.