Silas
Beloved of All
Your cry for mercy is the right place to begin, because we never come to God on the ground of getting what we deserve. Justice is receiving what we deserve, and none of us would want that. Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve, and grace is receiving what we do not deserve. We come always asking for His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, for it is by grace we are saved through faith, and that is a gift of God.
Jesus Himself said your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Prayer is not informing God of something He does not know, and it is not a way to make Him do our will on earth. True prayer begins with His will and His purpose being made known to our hearts, and then we express that back to Him. It is a comfort that you can bring an unspoken request to Him. He knows it fully, and prayer is not limited by words or by any material obstacle. He hears what is spoken in the secret place of the heart.
It is painful to be mocked for praying, but mockery has long been a tool used to discourage those who seek God. The right response is to turn that reproach into prayer, as Scripture shows us. We pray to God and at the same time we act responsibly before Him. Prayer is never an excuse to avoid wise and faithful action, and faithful action never replaces prayer. The two go together.
You mentioned feeling that others were trying to look righteous by belittling your prayer. Jesus spoke of those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others. We are warned that judgment without mercy will be shown no mercy, but mercy rejoices against judgment. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Ask God to help you show mercy even toward those who mocked you, and to keep your own heart with a pure conscience before Him.
You said you must believe your prayer has already been answered. It is good to want strong faith, but Scripture teaches us to examine what true faith is. To simply say we have faith is not enough. A living faith is not passive. It is active and it shows itself in how we live. Faith without corresponding works is dead, not because works earn salvation, but because genuine faith always produces a changed life and obedience to God. Abraham believed God, and his obedience showed that his faith was real and living. Even those who are called men and women of faith have had lapses, yet God counted them faithful because they continued to trust Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and fear and faith cannot rule the heart at the same time. Where fear is allowed to take over, faith is driven out. Ask the Lord to replace fear with steady trust in His Word.
It is also true that God's mercy is sovereign. He said, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. It is not a matter of our willing or striving, but of God who shows mercy. That is our hope, that He is merciful and faithful to keep His promises to those who love Him and keep His commands.
Heavy opposition and affliction have often been the setting where faith grows and love abounds toward one another. Do not be moved away from steadfast faith in Jesus Christ by affliction or by unkind words. Hold to faith that is sincere and unfeigned, from a pure heart and a good conscience.
May God count you worthy of His calling and fulfill His good purpose in you. May He strengthen you to do His will with power, and to walk in living faith that is seen in a life that honors Him.
Let us pray together. Father in heaven, great and awesome God who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love You, we come in the name of Jesus Christ alone for mercy and grace. You know this unspoken need before it is ever formed into words. We ask not for our will to be done, but for Yours to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Grant a true and living faith, not merely words, but a faith that works through love and obedience. Guard this heart from fear, comfort it in the face of mockery, and teach it to show mercy as You have shown mercy. Have mercy upon whom You will have mercy, and let Your perfect will be accomplished. In Jesus name, Amen.
Jesus Himself said your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Prayer is not informing God of something He does not know, and it is not a way to make Him do our will on earth. True prayer begins with His will and His purpose being made known to our hearts, and then we express that back to Him. It is a comfort that you can bring an unspoken request to Him. He knows it fully, and prayer is not limited by words or by any material obstacle. He hears what is spoken in the secret place of the heart.
It is painful to be mocked for praying, but mockery has long been a tool used to discourage those who seek God. The right response is to turn that reproach into prayer, as Scripture shows us. We pray to God and at the same time we act responsibly before Him. Prayer is never an excuse to avoid wise and faithful action, and faithful action never replaces prayer. The two go together.
You mentioned feeling that others were trying to look righteous by belittling your prayer. Jesus spoke of those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others. We are warned that judgment without mercy will be shown no mercy, but mercy rejoices against judgment. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Ask God to help you show mercy even toward those who mocked you, and to keep your own heart with a pure conscience before Him.
You said you must believe your prayer has already been answered. It is good to want strong faith, but Scripture teaches us to examine what true faith is. To simply say we have faith is not enough. A living faith is not passive. It is active and it shows itself in how we live. Faith without corresponding works is dead, not because works earn salvation, but because genuine faith always produces a changed life and obedience to God. Abraham believed God, and his obedience showed that his faith was real and living. Even those who are called men and women of faith have had lapses, yet God counted them faithful because they continued to trust Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and fear and faith cannot rule the heart at the same time. Where fear is allowed to take over, faith is driven out. Ask the Lord to replace fear with steady trust in His Word.
It is also true that God's mercy is sovereign. He said, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. It is not a matter of our willing or striving, but of God who shows mercy. That is our hope, that He is merciful and faithful to keep His promises to those who love Him and keep His commands.
Heavy opposition and affliction have often been the setting where faith grows and love abounds toward one another. Do not be moved away from steadfast faith in Jesus Christ by affliction or by unkind words. Hold to faith that is sincere and unfeigned, from a pure heart and a good conscience.
May God count you worthy of His calling and fulfill His good purpose in you. May He strengthen you to do His will with power, and to walk in living faith that is seen in a life that honors Him.
Let us pray together. Father in heaven, great and awesome God who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love You, we come in the name of Jesus Christ alone for mercy and grace. You know this unspoken need before it is ever formed into words. We ask not for our will to be done, but for Yours to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Grant a true and living faith, not merely words, but a faith that works through love and obedience. Guard this heart from fear, comfort it in the face of mockery, and teach it to show mercy as You have shown mercy. Have mercy upon whom You will have mercy, and let Your perfect will be accomplished. In Jesus name, Amen.
