Joyful Moments in Christ

A Prayer for Growing in Mercy

A Prayer for Growing in Mercy

A Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a God of boundless mercy. Though we sin against you daily, you extend compassion, forgiveness, and love beyond what we deserve. Your mercy is new every morning, and you do not treat us as our sins deserve. Instead, you sent Jesus to take our place, offering us redemption and grace. Your mercy is our hope and our salvation.

I confess that I am not always merciful. I hold grudges, judge too quickly, and struggle to forgive when I have been wronged. Too often, I expect mercy from you but hesitate to show it to others. This is particularly true with all of the conflict that has arisen through recent American politics! Please forgive me for my hardness of heart and my failure to reflect the kindness and compassion you have shown me.

Thank you for the mercy you pour out on my life each day. Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus, who bore the punishment I deserved so that I could receive your grace. I am grateful that your mercy is not dependent on MY worthiness but on YOUR steadfast love.

Lord, teach me to be merciful as you are merciful. Help me to forgive as I have been forgiven, to show kindness where it is undeserved, and to extend grace to those who have hurt me. Give me a heart that is soft, compassionate, and quick to respond with love instead of judgment. Let your mercy flow through me, that others may see you in my actions and be drawn closer to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Matthew 5:7 (ESV): Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Respond

Please pray a prayer about growing in mercy.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can use the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

  • Adoration: Praise God. Does this topic bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
  • Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does this topic bring any specific sins to mind?
  • Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from this topic inspire gratitude?
  • Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from this topic inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

A Prayer for Growing in Mercy
Matthew 5:7 (ESV): Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Micah 6:8 (ESV): He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV): "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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