Psalm 86:1-17

For Reading and Meditation:     Isaiah 51:1-16

We spend one last day meditating on Jesus' words: "Blessed [or happy] are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Facing negative feelings such as grief, sorrow, hurt and emotional pain is essential if we are to know our Lord's purpose for our lives. When we are willing to go down into the hurt and feel it, then...

Let us inquire what is necessary, in order to the assurance that our God will answer us. We must really mean what we say when we pray. We must pray for a definite object. We must pray in accordance with the will of God, as revealed in His promises and precepts.

We must pray in submission to the will of God, as to the time when, and the means by which He will answer us. We must heartily desire what we pray for. Our motives must be pure, as that God may be glorified, sin subdued, and...

The mercy of God is His pity, lovingkindness and compassion on those who are guilty, failing, distressed or needy. The Scriptures emphasize that God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) and plenteous in mercy (Psalms 86:5). His mercy is abundant (1 Peter 1:3); it is great unto the heavens (Psalms 57:10). "For as the...

God's commandment is good. The law of his will designates the only path in which it is good for men to walk. It cannot be that God's choice should be otherwise than best. But man has broken God's law, and discarded God's choice. He has left the path that infinite goodness appointed to him. The question now arises. How can it be good in God to forgive man for abandoning that path? Is it becoming to let man obtain such a stupendous victory, and proceeding by a forbidden path, possess himself...

Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? § Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. § Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. § Hallowed be Your name.Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. § Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His...

Who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? … O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. § Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. § For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there...

Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? § To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. § I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land … Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your loving- kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.Because...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. § As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. § As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. § [Cast] all your care upon Him, for He...

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. § Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear. § For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.Jacob said to his household … “Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in...

Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” § The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise. § Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. § Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,...