The Devotional Thought for Today: Psalm 17:6.
“I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.”
Sometimes we don’t need a long prayer—we just need a real one. David’s words in this verse are short, but they run deep. He isn’t just speaking into the air. He believes Someone is truly listening. And not just anyone—he’s calling on God, the One who made the heavens, yet leans in close when His children speak.
“I call on You” reminds us that prayer is not about the right formula, but about the right focus. David isn’t looking around for help from people or power or plans. He’s calling on the One who has answered before and will answer again. There’s confidence here: “You will answer me.” Not “maybe.” Not “if You’re in the mood.” This is the voice of someone who has a history with God and carries the scars—and stories—of prayers answered in the past.
Then comes the beautiful image: “Incline Your ear to me.” Can you see it? David believes that God is bending down to listen. Like a father cupping his hand to hear his little boy. Like a mother turning from a noisy room to catch her daughter’s soft voice. That’s what God does when we pray. He leans in.
And David closes with a simple request: “hear my words.” He’s not performing. He’s not dressing up his prayer. He just wants to be heard.
And don’t we all? In a world of noise, silence, and busy hearts, one of our deepest need is to be heard. And David tells us God leans in when His children speak.
So today, don’t worry about the length of your prayer. Or the eloquence. Or if you’ve got it all together. Just speak. He’s listening.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.