A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 3/28

Two friends and I recently had a conversation about God's mercy - and that put me in mind of a prayer I've posted in Lent over the years. We're almost half-way through Lent and this seems a good time for praying these words again...

God of all mercy,
   even before I sin,
   before I even think of failing
       to abide by your word,
   long before I fall from grace
even then,

   your mercy is pardoning, forgiving me,
    mending and healing me,
    lifting me up in your arms' embrace...

I don't deserve such mercy, Lord:
   no good I've ever done
       could merit the mercy
            you shower on me
and yet

   your lenient compassion
        is there for me, always
            - simply for the asking...

In my gratitude, Lord,

   I can't help but wonder:
       who waits for my mercy?
        who waits for my compassion,

who waits for my love?

Who waits on the other side

of my stubborn resentments

and long held grudges?

Who waits just outside

the door of my anger?

Who waits while I punish them

with my "silent treatment?"

Who waits, who's long been waiting,

to be welcomed back into my life?

Who waits to hear me speak

a gentle, loving word?

Who waits for the kindness,

of my patient understanding

and the freedom of my pardon?

As I wait for your mercy, Lord,

who's waiting for mine?

Because your mercy waits for me
- long before I even think to seek it -

so must I be ready, Lord,

to speak a word of kindness,

to mend and heal what's broken,

to welcome back to my embrace

those who've harmed and hurt me?

You taught us, Lord, to pray like this:

Forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us...

So I pray tonight,

with thanksgiving for your mercy:
    grant the grace I need, Lord,
       to hold within my heart
   a waiting store of mercy

for any and for all
who wait on my forgiveness...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Tonight's music is a simple song with a repeating mantra and instrumental interludes for considering our need for God's mercy and our call to be merciful to others...