Psalm 86:1-7 (NIV) - “Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.”

“This is a psalm of King David, and he is surrounded by enemies attacking him. Again the psalms provide a clinic on how to face life when it seems out of control. David feels solitary, defenseless. He responds by reminding himself over and over who God is. He most often calls God ‘Lord,’ the Hebrew word, ‘adonai,’ meaning ’sovereign.’ David is drilling his own heart to remember that God is in control” (Timothy Keller, The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms, p. 210).

As we devote our lives to Christ, we recognize more and more that we live in an out-of-control world, but God has always been in sovereign control. His “You are mine” love orchestrated nations, events, circumstances - all things to save us. He will hear the cries of our hearts today and answer us from His mercy, abounding in love. God’s “You are mine” love transforms and empowers us to believe and trust Him as “You are my God…” Let’s believe this by calling up on the Lord. Whatever may seem out of control, “adonai,” the sovereign Lord, is in complete control. So call upon the Lord. Do you feel defenseless? Do you feel distressed? Call upon the Lord! Are you concerned for a loved one? Call upon the Lord! Do you desire to faithfully submit to God? Call upon the Lord! “…Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy…I call to you, because you answer me.”

-CH