“Lord Have Mercy On Us Because Of Your Great Mercy!”

“Lord Have Mercy On Us Because Of Your Great Mercy!”
When a nation is in chaos like ours we have to genuinely seek God through prayer that acknowledges our sins as the reason for our predicaments. The prayer of Daniel for his exiled people during the babylonian captivity is a model.
Daniel prayed: “Now, O Lord our God…hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see… We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name” (Dan.9:15-19).
It is not just about asking God for deliverance but how we position self in our requests from him.
Daniel’s prayer teaches us such a great lesson: “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.” Jesus clarifies this prayer attitude in the parable of the prayer of the Pharisee and the tax collector.The Pharisee’s prayer was a long list of what he is and what he is not, unlike others. On his part the tax collector’s prayer was a simple acknowledgment of his sins and depending on God’s mercy. He simply beat his chest saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus concluded by saying the tax collector went home justified before God. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk. 18:9-14).
My friend, maybe you think you have prayed enough but God seems not to be answering you. Maybe yes! Rethink how you position yourself before God in prayer. Humility before God requires that we do not come before him to recount our achievements while looking down on others. Rather we should be contrite and penitent depending entirely on God’s great mercy.
When we adopt this attitude in prayer the Lord may hear us and save our land from bloodshed and the trauma which has overwhelmed us!
Prayer: Lord save our land from bloodshed; not because of our righteousness but because of your great mercy. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!