Learn this prayer, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble…” Psalm 31. This was a prayer of David who cried out to the Lord in a time of need. This single petition is repeated around eleven or twelve times just in the Psalms. Perhaps you were like me growing up learning different prayers to pray, like the “God is great” prayer before a meal or the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer and the “Lord’s prayer”. There’s definitely nothing wrong with those prayers to the Father, but this humble and desperate prayer of David is the prayer for the times we live in. The proud will not say it and the oblivious will only petition God for what they want. But the sincere child of God who realizes the trouble we are in will recognize and repeat this prayer. Your life maybe great and I hope it is, but know that as a nation we are in the deepest spiritual waters we have ever been in. And mercy is our greatest need right now. The Lord asked the blind man, “What would you have me do for you?” Jesus would asked that question for our sake. What may look obvious to you may be oblivious to others and I say that because not everyone understands the trouble we are in and the mercy of God we need. Psalm 123:3 extends the plea for God’s mercy, “Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us.”
Let me encourage you today to learn this prayer because the trouble we are in will become increasingly obvious and you will already know what to ask the Father. His mercy is our greatest need!