This sermon centers on Psalm 86 as a model of heartfelt, persistent prayer rooted in the believer's humility and dependence on God's character. The preacher emphasizes that true prayer begins not with petition, but with a recognition of God's goodness, mercy, and sovereignty, as David repeatedly affirms throughout the psalm. By reflecting on God's attributes, His compassion, grace, and power, the psalmist prepares his heart to cry out in need, not in desperation, but in trust. The sermon underscores that prayer is not merely a request for relief, but a spiritual discipline that reshapes the pray-er, deepens intimacy with God, and aligns the heart with divine truth. It calls listeners to embrace a posture of poverty in spirit, to trust God's timing and purposes even in suffering, and to find strength in knowing that God is faithful, merciful, and able to deliver, not only from external trials but from the depths of spiritual despair.