Seeking God for Mercy

“In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.” -Psalm 120:1.

The very essence of the Christian life is due to the mercy of God, and nothing else. God's Word affirms this in Romans 9:14-16 where it reads;

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

Many confuse the concepts of love and mercy, but they are in no way the same thing. Just the thought of having love for someone can bring warm feelings of affection toward them, but to show mercy indicates the guilt of a person who is deserving of punishment. Showing mercy may indicate that the person judging has underlying a loving, compassionate nature, but warm feelings are far suppressed when there is a need for punishment.

Psalm 136 has 26 verses dedicated to the mercy of God, with each verse proclaiming that God's mercy endureth forever. Did you know that many new Bible versions change the word “mercy” to “love” in every verse of Psalm 136? God preserved His Word in the King James Bible, and there is nowhere in scripture that ever declares that God's “love endures forever.” Not even once!

But the Bible does declare that God's mercy is everlasting toward those that fear Him, and that He even has a pity for them, as a father pities His children (Psalm 103:11-18). Yet it is important that we approach God with REVERENCE, petitioning Him according to our standing in grace (Ephesians 2:8,9), as the Bible does indicate...

We need to first understand that mankind has become naturally separated from God by sin, and that Jesus came to provide reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18,19) with God for us. Upon repenting and receiving Christ as our savior we become adopted as God's children (Romans 8:15), although prior to this we were but vessels of God's wrath (John 3:36, Ephesians 2:3). There is indeed no good in us (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10-12), and so it was God who loved us first (1 John 4:10), sending Jesus to pay the penalty for us while we were yet in our sins (Romans 5:8), and long before we were aware of what He had done for us.

Salvation itself is an unpredicable work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:7,8), but it will come to those who first recognize that they are sinners in need of repentance (Mark 2:17).

So when we seek God in prayer for any matter, the only claim we have for expecting answers is based upon what God has already done for us beforehand, and of His own character. We ought not to come before Him as demanding, entitled children, but as redeemed sinners who are eternally grateful for the salvation He provided through the life's blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has told us by His Word that He will supply our every need (Philippians 4:19) if we will but seek ABOVE ALL ELSE the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33), seeking Him through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6,7). His answers then come with a promise of a peace of mind that far surpasses what our flesh might normally understand should exist in stressful circumstances.

“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” -Luke 12:29-32.

The Bible gives us examples of prayers that please God, and one of the first I look to is the prayer of Daniel in the book of Daniel chapter 9, verses 3-19. He is humble, confessing the sins of he and his forefathers, and seeking the MERCIES of our God (please read!). Scripture shows us that Daniel was very special, and greatly loved by God, and there is no record he was ever rebuked for any sin. If this God-fearing man could so humble himself, how should we be approaching the Lord in prayer? Please consider the following scriptures as affirming this concept;

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” -Psalm 33:16-18.

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” -Isaiah 66:1,2.

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” -Luke 18:9-14.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” -James 4:10.

When we seek God in prayer, we are trusting in His character, and the truth of His Word. We ought to come before Him with thanks for all His goodness toward us in the past, and through which we can then thank Him again for hearing and answering the petitions we're currently making. Our God is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), and never changing (Hebrews 13:8).

And we also know that we are never cut off from the Lord's presence; He is near, and does hear (Psalm 139:7-12, Acts 17:24-27) our cries. Yet when we call upon Him we should be submitted to His will (Matthew 6:10); for God to answer in His time, and in His way (Isaiah 55:8-11).

“Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.” -John 7:6.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” -James 5:11.

Brethren, please be assured that God loves you, and longs for your prayers to come before Him. Yet our relationship with Him only exists because of His nature and outreach to us first. Having faith in God to answer prayers is never a, “name it, claim it” process, but a simple trust in God's character that does not lie. When we come boldly before His throne, it is to receive MERCY and grace for the hurt or temptation that we're experiencing (Hebrews 4:16).

I do hope that you will take the time to look up all of the scriptures listed to verify these important concepts I've noted here (Acts 17:11). May God quicken His Word to your soul.

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” -Titus 3:3-7. Bold type added.

You may also be interested in my YouTube video on this subject. It can be found at https://youtu.be/jurzM8tGocM.