Lord Have Mercy

I’ve heard others say this line many times when I was growing up. Upon hearing some hard news about an event, “Lord, have mercy” would be the response. I really never gave it much thought, but it’s a pretty cool prayer. Mercy by definition is “kindness or forbearance shown to another in one’s power”. It is also “the discretionary power of a judge to pardon or mitigate punishment”. The Lord has definitely shown me mercy over the years. I often see mercy as a companion to grace – underserved favor and love of God. I am so thankful for His Mercy & His Grace. The Psalmist pens a short passage for pilgrims heading into to Jerusalem where they went to worship. Check this out….

¹ I lift my eyes to you,
    O God, enthroned in heaven.
² We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
    just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
    as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
³ Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
    for we have had our fill of contempt.
⁴ We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
    and the contempt of the arrogant. (Psalm 123:1-4 NLT)

I need the Lord to shower me with mercy.

I need His Mercy to wash my heart clean.

I deserve severe punishment quite often, but instead I receive mercy and grace.

I know that there are people who despise Christ followers, but I will follow Him anyway. I know what it is like to sit at His Table and have Him speak into my heart and into my life.  He is so gentle and so kind, but He can also be firm. He disciplines those He loves, and I’ve been the recipient of His discipline as well.  I am determined to keep my eyes on Him and keep looking to His Word for guidance for my life. I’m so thankful for His Presence in me. He loves in a way that gives me mercy and grace and allows me to share that mercy and grace with others. I am humbled when I ponder His Mercy and His Grace.

Pressing On!

Dwayne