Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Listen to the Word

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. (Psalm 86:3)

You might expect that God would only pay attention to the prayers of people who are especially holy. Perhaps we assume that if we want God to hear our prayers, we should polish up our religious résumés. We might pray, “Lord, I have been to church for several weeks in a row. I have been reading my Bible a little more. I’ve mostly been nice to people. I have even tried to floss my teeth more lately. Since I’ve been so good, please answer my prayer.”

But the psalmist realizes that the foundation of prayer is God’s mercy, not our merit. God is not waiting for you to “measure up” before he will hear your prayers. Don’t bother with trying to impress Him. He wants you to come to him just as you are.

Live the Word

As you pray today, be aware of the fact that your ability to come into God’s presence is not something you have achieved as a reward for good behavior - it is a gift of God’s mercy.