A Prayer for the Needy

A Prayer of David

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you--you are my God.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

In the day of trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works liker yours.

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

For you a great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Teach me you way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

I give thanks to you, O Lord, my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, insolent men have risen up against me a band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set you before them.

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.

Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 86:1-17, ESV

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

"For thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out'" (Ezek. 34:12, ESV).

I am thinking (and praying) through several difficult situations. Satan would have me to believe the lie that God is not able to deliver those in these situations. He would have me to give into despair. When he can't get me to give into these tactics, he attacks me in all my weak spots. He keeps me busy with less important matters. He keeps my mind chasing meatless rabbits. He knows that if he can keep me stumbling in sin, or burdened by shame, or wrestling with doubt, he can keep me off balance and ineffective.

But I am not an abandoned sheep. My shepherd is ever vigilant and ever near. When I was lost and going astray, he came seeking me and brought me into the fold. Jesus has the power to slay that old lion, the Devil. While it doesn't seem like it, Satan is a defeated foe. His time is short. We must continually confront his lies with this truth.

As I think about the ravages of sin that I have witnessed in my life, I am comforted to know that I have a shepherd who cares for me. My prayer for those who profess Christ as their Lord and who are struggling with sin can be summed up by the song "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us:"

Savior like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;
In the pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, thine we are.

We are thine; do thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou has promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou has mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Early let us turn to thee;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Early let us turn to thee.

Early let us seek thy favor; early let us do thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Lord, you have bought us, we are yours. As we pray through the hard times ahead, hear us when we pray. You have promised to receive us, even though we are poor and sinful. Defend us from sin and seek us when we go astray. You have loved us, and will continue to do so. We give you thanks and praise for showing us your gracious kindness. Amen.

Granted It, Lord!

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:14-21)