Verses 1-7
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David asks God to hear and answer his prayer because he knows that God is good, merciful, and forgiving.
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In order to be confident in prayer, we have to understand that God is good. Learn about God's readiness to give and show you mercy, and you will want to pray more.
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Consider this passage: “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:11-13).
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Notice David's points of emphasis in his prayer: ”O Lord, hear me...”
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“For I am poor and needy”, “For I am holy”, “Your servant who trusts in You”, “I cry to You all day long”...David understood his weakness without God's grace, and he was desperate for God's help. He also knew the importance of living a holy life to please God, as well as praying continually.
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If you want your prayer life to deepen, start by praying often. Praying often shows your trust in God and that you are truly depending on Him. Every day is a test of your faith, to see if you will exercise your faith by praying or not. Also pursue a life without sin, and you will grow closer to God.
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Verses 8-10
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Because God is greater than all gods, and greater than anything that is worshiped, we can know that all nations will worship the true God in the end, willingly or unwillingly (Philippians 2:10-11). Let this fact assure you in times of discouragement.
Verses 11-13
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Pray for God to teach you His ways, and praise Him because He has saved you from hell. Keep it simple.
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There is nothing else that ought to bring us more joy than knowing that through Christ Jesus we are delivered from the wrath of eternal flame and granted citizenship in the kingdom of God. This alone shows God's unfathomable mercy. Why doubt His mercy now?
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Verses 14-17
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Knowing that God is good and gracious, David prayed for strength and reassurance in a time of great trouble. He prayed for a “sign”.
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But notice that he doesn't pray for a sign that he expects to see before he will trust in God. He prays for a sign because he already trusts in God—knowing that God has helped him in the past. He's simply asking God to show him something to encourage him.
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Today, we might ask for God to help us focus on something—to see some sign or mark of His goodness—that will strengthen us in hard times. When you are struggling, you can pray for this. Simply ask God to help you see His goodness and His purpose in the difficulty, and this knowledge will act as a “sign” to encourage you!
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Also remember that even our enemies will be ashamed when they discover that God had a good purpose even in the evil that they intended. Trust God always!
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