Mercy, Not Merit

“O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.”Daniel 9:18Daniel’s prayer is a beautiful reminder of how we approach God. He did not come boasting of his own goodness or presenting a list of achievements. Instead, he confessed that neither he nor the people deserved God’s favour. Their only hope was found in the Lord’s abundant mercy.The same is true for every believer today. We are not accepted by God because of our righteousness, for our best efforts can never earn His blessing. We come to Him through His grace and mercy, made available through the Lord Jesus Christ. When we pray, we do not stand on the foundation of our merit, but upon the foundation of God’s character His love, compassion, and faithfulness.What a comfort it is to know that God’s willingness to hear us does not depend on our perfection. Even in times of failure, weakness, or need, we can come boldly to Him, trusting not in ourselves, but in His great mercies.PrayerHeavenly Father, thank You for Thy great mercies toward me. Help me never to trust in my own righteousness, but to rest completely in Thy grace. Teach me to come before Thee with humility and faith, knowing that Thou art merciful and faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordalone.substack.com