Psalm 86:11

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

-Psalm 86:11 (ESV)-

Let’s look at the context of the verse first and answer a few key questions.

Who wrote it? David

When was it written? Because we don’t know the exact circumstance in which this Psalm was written, we only know it was written during his lifetime. 

To whom was it written? It was a prayer that David wrote to God.

For what purpose?  He was facing deep trouble and was crying out to God for help.

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. -Psalm 86:11

Hi sweet friend! 

You may recognize that just a couple of weeks ago we were in Psalm 86 studying verse 15. This week we are back in Psalm 86 studying verse 11. We are learning about God being truthful, that His ways are the only absolute truth we can walk in. In this verse, the phrase “walk in truth” in the NIV is translated as “rely on your faithfulness.” Where do we learn about God’s faithfulness? In His Word. Therefore, to rely on his faithfulness, we must know what is truth. We must be in the Word. 

Psalm 25:5 says, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” The Bible is our guide. It is our access to His truth and His teachings that should transform our lives and teach us a healthy fear of disobeying His commands. We should use that healthy fear as further motivation to walk in obedience to His laws.

Jeremiah 32:39 says, “I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.” He is telling them here that they will be given a singleness of heart and action. That is a realigning of purposes and desires toward Him. We learn those purposes and our desires change when we study our Bibles and understand what He asks of us, not what the world asks of us. The only way to be able to walk in His truth is to KNOW HIS TRUTH! 

Ok, while that was heavy, and I pray that you heard it for exactly what it was, a call to get in The Word and know God better so that you can daily align your feet with the path He wants you to walk, there is something else I want to show you in Psalm 86.

This beautiful prayer that David poured out to God gives us a practical outline we can follow in our own prayer life. 

Dear Lord, I ask that you will:

1. Hear and answer my prayer (86:1,6)

2. Protect and save me (86:2)

3. Be merciful to me (86:3,16)

4. Give me joy and satisfaction (86:4)

5. Teach me (86:11)

6. Give me an undivided heart (86:11)

7. Show me your goodness (86:17)

So, the next time you don’t know what to pray, can I suggest that you flip over to Psalm 86 and pray it back to God and then use the same outline to pray again, practicing the 7 steps David modeled? 

Friends, I love you and pray that you are daily spending time with God and growing to know Him and His character more each day. There is freedom in allowing Him to lead, guide, and direct your steps. 

Til next time! 

XOXO, 

Kara

1 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.