Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness. Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore, my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
– Psalm 143
Devotion
In this Psalm, David cries out to God for mercy because of his faint heart. During this time of despair, David remembers God’s faithfulness. He asks God not to judge according to his righteousness, since there is no one righteous before God, but instead to extend steadfast love towards him and lift his spirit. He recounts the past, and is encouraged with hope that God has acted in the past on his behalf and trusts that He will in the future as well. He asks God’s Spirit to show him the path to follow, to be his refuge in times of need, to preserve his life, and demonstrate His trustworthiness, steadfast love, and mercy.
We can also cry out to God in our distress and know that He hears us. During our times of need, God wants us to cry out to him for His mercy and His steadfast love. He longs for us to look to Him for hope, refuge, and protection. We can remember how he has shown us His goodness and power in the past which reminds us that God is working through our current trials and that we can trust Him. God is more than able to save in times of need and direct us to level ground.
The Big Question
Reflect on David’s dependence on God. Do you depend on God during times of trouble and trust in His love, power and faithfulness as David did? If not, why not? How can you remind yourself that God has been faithful in the past and build your trust that He will remain faithful in the future?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.