Psalm 86

A prayer of David

1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.

3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.

4 Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

6 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.

9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.

10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

12 I will praise you, O 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 of the grave.

14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.

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

16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.

17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

The psalmist started Psalm 86, admitting that he was poor and needy. What a broken man he was, before the Lord! Then he went on pleading the Lord to have mercy on him and help him.

The prayer that the psalmist made in v11 really touches my heart. "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." There are many things in this world that can distract us from God. Our hearts are often cluttered with many so-called good things like family, relationships, money, careers, studies, ministry, etc.

I'm not saying that we should not value the above-mentioned things. It's just that we have to remember that God should be in the centre of our hearts. We need to yearn and desire for an undivided heart for the Lord. Honestly, this cannot be done, if not for the grace of God. Hence, we have to humble ourselves and be broken, like the psalmist did in v1.

Admit that our hearts are deceitful. If there's even a hint of goodness, it is because our God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness - v15.


O'Lord, come and change my heart. I want to have a heart that is undivided and desires only You.


Things to ponder
1. What are some things that rival God's place in your heart right now? Name a few.
2. Pray for yourself to have an undivided heart before the Lord. Confess and repent of every rival throne in your heart now.
3. Suggest one or two things that you can do to help you have an undivided heart.