Psalm 86 - Have Mercy!

.......mercy is God’s infinite kindness and unending
favor toward his people whose lives have been ruined
by sin or stressed by trials. ~ Charles Spurgeon

"Mercy" is frequently confused with " grace". I have always distinguished between the two this way:

GRACE - freely receiving something I do not deserve: the unmerited, unconditional love of God Almighty.

MERCY - being graciously spared from something that I completely deserve: judgment and punishment for my sin

Both are free.
Both are gifts from God.
One (love) is given freely without condition.
The other (judgment) is compassionately restrained.
Neither are deserved!


In Psalm 86, David is begging God for mercy! I think many of us need to use a page out of David's playbook and pray this prayer along with him!

¹ Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

² Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.

³ Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.

⁴ Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

⁶ Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.

⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.