Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help…. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.—Psalm 86:1, 4 (NLT)

As an author, I love vibrant verbs. So as I read the early verses of Psalm 86 today, my writer mindset noticed all those calls to action. David asks God to bend down, hear, answer, protect, save, be merciful, and bring joy. Pondering the life of Christ, I realized that David’s prayer was answered for all of us in Jesus. 

In the Gospels, we see Jesus bending down to touch and heal. He listens to people’s needs. He removes the disabilities of the blind and lame. He protects the woman about to be stoned. He saves us all by His death on the cross. He shows mercy to Peter after his denial. And He brings all of humankind eternal hope with His resurrection. 

Jesus shows immense love for us with every grace-filled verb I can think of. He moves in practical and tangible ways to guide, comfort, and forgive. 

Reading about His life makes me want to follow Him and serve others in tangible ways. Perhaps I can stoop down to tie a child’s shoes. Or listen to a friend who is lonely. Guard the reputation of a member of my congregation by not listening or responding to gossip. I can show grace to an acquaintance who made an annoying comment. Maybe I will bring joy with a surprise card or gift to someone who is lonely. 

Today I want to respond to Jesus’s love with active verbs as I invite Him to live through me.

Faith Step: Read Psalm 86 and highlight all the verbs you notice. Choose one and serve others with that tangible action today.