Psalm 86:1-7
Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Oh, Lord, please help my poor and needy soul. Have mercy on me in the depth of my struggle. I need the strength only You can give, the comfort that comes from Your gracious heart, the joy that only You can restore. I am only poor and needy, but You are good and merciful. You hear my desperate cries that no one else would pay attention to. You are faithful to respond and to act. You are full of compassion so that it spills forth from You into this weary world. You love beyond my comprehension with an enduring and powerful love. You are patient with my weaknesses as I stumble in my humanity. You are full of mercy and truth to provide the answers that I need.

Along with David, I lift up my soul, my heart, my eyes, my mind, my petitions to the great God I love and serve. I look to You, Lord, for help in hopeless situations, for wisdom in confounding ones, for forgiveness in my sinfulness, for peace in the heartbreak and sorrow of this life. I am not a king like David. I am not a warrior who goes out to battle. I am not a shepherd or a musician. But I am Your servant, desiring to do Your will, desiring to live for You, wanting to please You. And how weary I can get, how desperate for Your intervention. So I echo the words of the great psalmist, trusting You will hear my cry and act as You know best.