Verse of the Day 7/20

 

Psalm 86:16Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

This week we've been considering how it is that we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd in the power of His future grace that is given to us, to meet our needs as we call upon Him day by day.

 

Today's verse from Psalm 86 is similar to many calls throughout the Psalms by various psalm writers, quite often David, for God to be gracious to them in all kinds of situations. They calls for help, strength, healing, deliverance, forgiveness, and relief in trying situations.

 

• They cry out for grace when they need help: "Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my helper!" (Psalm 30:10).

• When they are weak: "Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant" (Psalm 86:16).

• When they need healing: "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord" (Psalm 6:2).

• When they are afflicted by enemies: "Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me" (Psalm 9:13).

• When they are lonely: "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted" (Psalm 25:16).

• When they are grieving: "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief" (Psalm 31:9).

• When they have sinned: "O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!" (Psalm 41:4).

• When they long for God's name to be exalted among the nations: "God be gracious to us and bless us . . . that your way may be known on earth" (Psalm 67:1–2).

I chose to use the NKJV today because it starts with the simple word "oh".  It adds something to the depth of emotion shown by the psalmist, the one calling out.  It comes from the heart, from the depth of the soul, and it conveys a sense of urgency and perhaps even desperation in the cry.  Whatever you or perhaps a close friend or loved one faces, cry out to God for yourself or on behalf of that friend that God would have mercy and grant strength to them in their time of need.

I do so this morning for a former pastor of mine who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  I would ask that you call out to God for him as well.

 

Please say a prayer for Pastor Bill, truly, one of God's servants.  May God "powerfully and gently put him back on his feet." The Message

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Psalm 86:11-17The Message (MSG)

^11-17 Train me, God, to walk straight;
    then I'll follow your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind;
    then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;
    I've never kept secret what you're up to.
You've always been great toward me—what love!
    You snatched me from the brink of disaster!
God, these bullies have reared their heads!
    A gang of thugs is after me—
    and they don't care a thing about you.
But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
    not easily angered, immense in love,
    and you never, never quit.
So look me in the eye and show kindness,
    give your servant the strength to go on,
    save your dear, dear child!
Make a show of how much you love me
    so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed,
As you, God, gently and powerfully
    put me back on my feet.