Lord, Have Mercy

God, have mercy on me, a sinner

This very short prayer, just seven words, absolutely changes lives. When spoken from the heart, God immediately and instantly answers the prayer, bestows mercy, grace and love on the person, and transforms them, makes them a new creation.

This prayer, in this form, is only prayed once. For when God answers, the person is no longer a sinner. But, saved by grace, that person becomes the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He may often pray for mercy, but not as a sinner. The prayer for mercy now becomes have mercy on me, for I sinned. Not I am a sinner.

Let's read the story, as Jesus told it...

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterous - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

Jesus contrasts two men: a Pharisee and a tax collector. Pharisees were religious men. They followed the Law of Moses (or so they thought). Because of it, they became proud and arrogant. Sure, this man could be commended for not robbing people, committing adultery, or other evil. But he lacked a humble and contrite heart. And he was proud. Read what God says about the proud:

Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.  Psalm 101:5 (NIV)

Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.  Psalm 138:6 (NIV)

Now the tax collector knew he had nothing to boast about before God. And he came away justified. That means "just as if I'd never sinned."

Do you want to be justified? Then simply pray these seven words:

God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then, rejoice, because you're no longer a sinner, but you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!