A Closer Walk

Ancient Israelite King David really had a way with words. He was a shepherd boy. He fought and defeated the giant Philistine warrior Goliath. And he was described by God Himself as "a man after God's own heart". A large part of the Book of Psalms was written by him.
"Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Thy faithfulness, in Thy righteousness! And do not enter into judgement with Thy servant, For in Thy sight no man living is righteous," Psalm 143:1-2 NASB. In this beautifully worded passage David is crying out to Almighty God for help. He asks God to answer his prayer because of God's faithfulness, and not his own. David wants God to answer because of God's righteousness, and not David's. Further, he asks God to deal with him out of God's own faithfulness and righteousness, and not out of God's judgment. David knows that he himself is not righteous, and certainly not righteous enough to stand before Almighty God and make requests of Him. David says, "...in Thy sight no man living is righteous".
Realizing that he lacks the righteousness needed, he asks for the only remedy possible. That Almighty God, the only true and living God, would act on David's behalf because of God's own righteousness and faithfulness. It is the same with us. We can't depend on our own righteousness or faithfulness. But we can absolutely depend on God's righteousness and faithfulness because the Lord Jesus Christ paid our sin penalty on the cross. Our God is both faithful and righteous. Always.
“I stretch out my hands to Thee; My soul longs for Thee, as a parched land. Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails; do not hide Thy face from me, Lest I become like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in Thee; teach me the way in which I should walk; For to Thee I lift up my soul,” Psalm 143:6-8 NASB. David continues to cry out to the Lord for help. His soul longs not just for God's answer to his prayer, but for God Himself. Just as a parched land longs for the soothing refreshment of rain.
David says his spirit fails, and so he wants God to answer him quickly. He pleads with God that He would not hide His face from David. If that happened David would be like those who go down to the pit. David then asks to hear God's lovingkindness in the morning. Why? Because he trusts in God.
Knowing that God is faithful and righteous, David asks for guidance; “...teach me the way in which I should walk...”. Then he adds, “For to Thee I lift up my soul”. We could pray the same thing. Teach me the way in which I should walk O Lord; For to You do I lift up my soul.
Just a closer walk with Thee. Grant it Jesus is my plea.