Psalm 86:1-17 This is one of my favorite psalms. I pray this psalm almost every morning. I usually paraphrase several verses and pray, “For You are God. You do wondrous things. Teach me Your ways, Lord. I want to walk in Your truths. Unite my heart to fear Your name, and I will glorify You forevermore.”
God has been faithful over the years to hear my prayer. My desire has always been to know the ways of the Lord, not just His works. The children of Israel knew the mighty works of the Lord, but only Moses knew His ways. What is the difference between His works and ways? The works of the Lord are always the outer manifestations of His power, but the ways of the Lord are His character traits and His heart. When we begin to know His ways, we can be secure in His love for us. We can be confident in His desire to grant us all we need to get through whatever circumstances in life we may face.
All we need is found in God’s character. He is longsuffering, patient, merciful, loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, truthful and full of grace. The more intimately you know someone, the more you can trust Him. When I married my husband I thought I knew Him, but even after many years of marriage I am still learning his ways. My trust level in my husband has increased greatly because I know now how much he loves me. I never question this. However, when we were first married, I sometimes was not secure in his love for me. It was not because he didn’t love me. It was because I was insecure in my ability to hold his love forever. This dilemma is one we will never face with God. His love for us is forever and for all eternity, and nothing we do or say will stop His love for us. Of course, many times we may not please Him, but His love is unconditional.
My husband and I have a great relationship now because we both are secure in our love for one another. We never have to prove our love to each other. When we get to know God’s character through intimate fellowship with Him, we realize we never have to prove our love to Him. He loves us, and all we have to do is receive His love and walk in His love with others. God’s ways truly are wondrous.
Lord, I want to know You in a deeper way than I did yesterday.
READ: Jeremiah 28:1-29:32; 1 Timothy 1:1-20; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 25:17
Bill Wiese 
Paul McGuire 
