“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways…” Psalm 17:6-7a NLT

David’s Example

I’m finishing Lesson 10 in our Women’s Bible Study on Ruth. It’s Day 5 of this beautifully written study on God’s restoration in Naomi’s life…after the death of her husband and two sons, the trials of being a widow, the love and hard work of her daughter-in-law Ruth, the kinsman redeeming grace of her relative Boaz, and the power of God in all their lives to bring restoration and blessing from bad situations.

Question 7 asked us to look up Psalm 17:6-7, and “take to heart David’s example for us.” I was so struck by the New Living Translation (NLT) version of it. David is praying to God, not because he hopes or wishes God will answer, but because he knows He will. He then asks God to bend down and listen

As I read those words, I had a vision of a little girl crying out and tugging on her daddy’s hand or shirt and him bending down on one knee to look her in the eye so she knows she has his full attention. My husband used to do that with our three kids, and I can still remember the look on their faces when he did—their eyes would get big and they would lean in, knowing they were important, knowing their dad would listen and really hear what they had to say. They knew without a doubt they were loved by him.

David goes on to ask the Lord to show him His unfailing love, trusting He will do so in wonderful ways. Two of the wonderful ways God showed me His unfailing love recently was through the beauty of the lake during a hike with my husband, and enjoying my backyard awash with the color of spring flowers with my daughter.

Ladies, let us look to David’s example, trusting in the midst of dark times and uncertainty God still answers our prayers. He still bends down and listens to us, and without a doubt He still shows us His unfailing love in wonderful ways. I pray the Lord would in a very literal way reveal these things to you and yours this week.

Thank You for Your Word, and the reminder that You are our Abba Daddy, bending down and listeni—and in Your time and in Your way answering our prayers. Thank You for the many wonderful ways You show us Your unfailing love; help us actively look for and recognize them. Amen.