Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. (Psalm 86.1) David’s prayer starts in a way we feel we can understand. This verse adorns the top of the song I Need Thee Every Hour. We all need God. But look at how many levels this simple statement sings to.
The world needs God. God provides life, even the very air we breathe. The world is held together by His hand, and at the right time, will come undone. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. God is our Savior and provider. Truly, the very refrain we all repeat is the sinner’s need for God to save!
We need God to be faithful to forgive. If you are a Christian, you have been baptized into the saving blood of His Son- but are you perfect? No, far from it. We need God to forgive us of the failings of the flesh. But, will He? Yes. God is faithful to forgive, but that means we NEED that to happen. I need God to forgive me when I sin.
Additionally, I need Him to guard my heart. The heart is deceitful above all things. I need Him to watch over me and guide me in the right. Temptations are strong. Temptations are desires that get between me and my God (James 1.15) and if I concentrate on doing His will, He will show me the way to go. My desire is mine and I NEED God to help me be less about me and more about Him.
Then there is the idea of poorness. David confesses he is “poor and needy”. I pray we are not poor in Spirit, but it happens. Things arise in life that sap all of our spiritual strength. Problems are real. Trials are real. Pain, agony, suffering, death…all real. And in all of these we NEED God. Job shows unfathomable strength in reminding his spouse that we should praise God when things are good and when things are bad (Job 2.10).
The Bible is full of good advice. There is reminder after reminder that God will provide, or salvation belongs to the LORD, or life eternal is for those who persevere…but they mean nothing if I do not put them into practice. Are things bad for you right now? I’m sorry. There’s a bright day coming, but darkness remains. Lately, I have had about enough darkness. I long for a brighter day. So, I remind myself- O God, how I NEED You!
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