You Are My God

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

You Are My God

Date: Jan. 24, 2022

Passage

Psalm 86:1-17 (ESV)

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 godly;
    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 the day.
4   Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5   For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6   Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.
7   In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
    for you 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 worship 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;
    unite my heart to fear 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, insolent men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men 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,
    and save the son of your maidservant.
17   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.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 86:15

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

In this prayer, David pours out his heart to God, intermingling praise, expressions of spiritual desire, and pleas for help. David can do this because he knows God as his personal God who cares for him, and he has a clear identity as God’s servant (2, 16). Though his emotions are like a storm inside him, he keeps returning to God as his anchor. He knows God is forgiving, good, and abounding in love (3). He asks to be made more like God, with an undivided heart (11). This prayer is an example of how we can come to God as we are even when we feel very weak and unstable.

When we are troubled, we should remember all of God’s good attributes revealed in his word: his powerful saving love toward us in Jesus (13), his compassion and grace, and his faithfulness (15). Then we can praise God unconditionally for who he is, gaining a higher point of view over our problems. Relying on God’s character, we can have courage to ask God directly to grant us mercy (16) and display his goodness visibly (17).

Prayer: Prayer: Father, you are my God and I know all of your goodness in Jesus. Help me make it through times of crisis by remembering your goodness and bringing you all my requests.

One Word: One Word: Great is God’s love toward me

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Acts 22:30-23:11

Key Verse: 22:23:11

Today's Question

How does God direct us to pray?

See answer and references