God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

AM Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) • PM Psalm 33
Mal. 3:13-4:6 • James 5:13-20 • Luke 18:9-14

The tax collector in our reading is standing far off. He cannot even raise his head to look at the altar. He is humble and beats his breast as he prays “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The Jesus prayer! I would say our tax collector was the first one to pray this prayer that has been prayed both in the Eastern and Western church for centuries.

“Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God be merciful to me, a sinner.” We too can pray this simple but wonderful prayer. As we pray, we will be reminding ourselves who our Lord is; who our friend, Jesus is; who our Savior, Christ is. We are reminded that the Son of God is part of the Trinity that includes our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Counselor. We can let go and let God’s grace fill us as we say, have mercy on me, a sinner. 

Praying this prayer is a way we can pray without ceasing. We can pray it, at all times, and in all places. We will remind ourselves with each breath. We can breathe in God as we inhale, “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God” and as we exhale our brokenness, “have mercy on me, a sinner.” Because think about it? What is the one thing we do without ceasing? WE breathe! So, as we breathe without ceasing, we can pray without ceasing. Inhaling: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God” and exhaling” “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” 

We breathe ourselves into closeness, awareness, and the pleasure of knowing we can pray unceasingly to the One who loves us as he did the both the tax collector and the Pharisee in our reading. Who wants the Pharisee in us to recognize Him in everything we are and everything we do. Who wants the tax collector in us to recognize that we are forgiven our sins. Who will always be with us and love us.

Written by Chris Schaefer

“Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God be merciful to me, a sinner.” All day, every day.