Psalm 86:11-17
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
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What is striking in this prayer for help is the plea that the Lord would teach the psalmist His way. He wants the Lord to teach Him His way so that he would grow in trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness and would fear him with an undivided heart.
What’s interesting about this is that this request is placed as part of a greater prayer for deliverance from enemies. In the face of the challenge from the enemies, the psalmist prays for help in the form of the Lord’s guidance in walking in His ways. It is a prayer for discipleship. It is a prayer for spiritual growth that is realized in life.
I don’t know that we always make the connection between discipleship and deliverance, but this psalm clearly draws a line between the two. We are to pray daily for deliverance from the spiritual enemies that are around us, but part of that deliverance comes in the form of following the Lord with an undivided heart. For then I am hearing His voice, committed to following Him, and actively seeking to let Him lead me through the spiritual challenges that are around me.
So my prayer today is for both discipleship and deliverance. I pray that the Lord would teach me His way so that I may be delivered from the enemies and so follow Him for faithfully.
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