Mercy

One of my goals this year is to actually figure out a system to manage all of the prayer requests I have. So far, it’s a piece of paper in a notebook that I rarely look at. I guess that means it’s mostly just in my head, and until about two weeks ago, I was pretty organized in there.

There are so many good reasons to pray for these specific requests: for our personal good, for our spiritual good, for the good of the Kingdom and the Church, for the good of our communities, I could go on. This morning, though, I read something that challenged me. It’s been on my mind and has affected my perspective all day.

Oswald Chambers writes,

…at last we cry, “Heal me, O Lord, not because of my pain, nor because my soul is sick, but for Your mercies’ sake.” Then we have the answer, “The LORD has heard my supplication.”

I so often feel like I have to justify to God why I ask Him for something. I don’t want my requests to sound selfish or frivolous, so I throw in something like “for someone’s spiritual growth” or “so Your Kingdom will advance.” There is nothing wrong with wanting healing of any kind, even if it is simply for our own relief. God welcomes our honesty and sees through our piety. What struck me about Chambers’ observation was the idea God doesn’t fulfill our petitions only because we have good reasons, but because He is merciful.

I’m not saying that one reason (God’s mercy) is better than the other (personal motivation). I don’t know how to make that call, and I’m pretty sure that’s not my call to make in anyone’s prayer life other than my own, if even that. Nor do I think we can only have one reason per request. Come to think of it, I rarely have only one reason per request. But I also rarely include God’s mercy as a reason.

As I sat judging my own prayer requests and motivations, a line from an old(er) worship song came to mind.

mercy triumphs over judgment

There is always a place for reflection and placing ourselves under the microscope of God’s holiness, but what a relief to remember that at the end of an honest review, we can still rest in His mercy! I know more detailed theologians will probably say Chambers is actually referring to God’s grace rather than His mercy, but His mercy triumphs over even our own inexact judgments. This truth still remains: God answers our prayers because of who He is, not for why we ask or because of who we are…ones who actually deserve His wrath rather than His gifts. Amazing, isn’t He?

Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2.13