“Jesus is our tutor and example in all things, and nowhere is that more clear than in our prayer lives. It is no exaggeration to say that prayer undergirded and preceded and empowered everything that our Lord did while He walked on this earth. He frequently spoke about prayer and even more frequently taught by example.” 

david jeremiah, prayer: the great adventure

Please read the first blog post entitled “Why Fast?” This explains what fasting is and why we follow Jesus in this spiritual discipline as together we seek the heart of God.

Each day during our 21 Days, we will focus on one part of the ACTS prayer acronym – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. We will spend between 3-5 days on each part of the ACTS prayer acronym. Each devotion will take less than ten minutes of your time.

Supplication simply means “a humble request for help or mercy from someone in authority.” In our application, it means a humble request of God.

Supplication

Engage the Word

Read Psalm 86:1-7 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. 

Supplication means “a humble request for help or mercy from someone in authority.” In Psalm 86, the psalmist David begins with a request for God to hear his prayer and respond by providing help in his time of trouble. “Poor and needy” is a common description in the Psalms of those who require God’s help, and the psalmist does not hesitate to express his neediness and desperate dependence on God. The psalmist confesses not only he is poor and needy, but also godly or faithful (v. 2), using a Hebrew word we’ve seen before (ḥāsîd) that is related to the noun for ‘unfailing love’ (ḥesed) which denotes loyalty. Yes, the psalmist is loyal to God and his covenant – but he recognizes that it is God who is abounding in “steadfast love” (ḥesed) for all who call upon Him (v 5). David provides a wonderful example here of humbly and expectantly bringing supplication to God.

Reflect on the Truth

1. Read through and meditate on Psalm 86:1-7, making these words your own – with dependency and expectancy before God.
2. The psalmist admits his utter neediness before God. Likewise, bring your neediness and your needs to God in this moment. He is near, and He listens.
3. In what ways can you personalize this prayer – specifically your “plea for grace” (v. 6) “in the day of my trouble” (v. 7)?

Depend on the Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that those thoughts are pointing to. (For example: you may write down, “I admit my neediness before you, O God, and I know that I am weak. I’m thankful that your strength is made perfect in my weakness, though sometimes I do wonder if you are listening or even aware.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His word, His Spirit, His people.

For Prayer

Today, pray for a humble dependence and expectancy for all who call Ascent Church home. Pray that we would be a people who aren’t afraid of vulnerability with each other, even as we pray that we would be open, honest and vulnerable before God.

____________________________________________________

Content from these devotionals has been adapted from various resources, including The Bible Speaks Today commentary series by John Stott, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary by Derek Kidner, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary by Tremper Longman and others.