A Daily Prayer For Justice And Mercy

As Christians, we must do our devotion to God daily. Sunday is not the only day and time for us to pray and read God’s Word. Sunday church gatherings have a different purpose than our daily devotions with God. While Sunday church gatherings are important, personal daily devotions with God are also important and should never be neglected. When we talk about justice and mercy, there are two specific things for which we can pray every day. First, there is something to pray for in the relation between God and us. 

There are many things that you can pray for every day. You can pray to God for something persistently, without ceasing, or you can pray for your family’s salvation or a desired job promotion. Another thing you can pray for are the concerns of other people. You shouldn’t just pray for yourself. As Christians, we ought to be selfless and love others. One way to do that is to pray with and for them. That is why you should remember other people in your prayers every day. However, the things you pray to God for every day are not just limited to things relating to you or your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. You can also pray daily and give thanks to God for the grace and mercy He has shown you through Christ. If not for Christ, your life may be completely different, and you would be away from God. However, you are here right now praying to God as His child, saved from the penalty of Your sin, with eternal life in Christ awaiting you. That is something we should always thank God for every day in our prayers. It is something we will forever be grateful for.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-8

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:4-5

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

If you are a Christian, you already know that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Because of that, all of us are separated from God and doomed to eternal death. Because of our sin, we are recipients of God’s wrath. God is just, and therefore, He must punish sin. However, God is also merciful and gracious, which is why He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty of our sin, instead of us paying the penalty and dying. Because of what Christ has done, we can now find eternal life and forgiveness. Not only that, but our standing before God is restored, and we are now adopted as His children. God’s justice was shown when Jesus died on the cross for us, fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath for our sins. We have received mercy from God by receiving forgiveness in Christ. We deserved wrath and eternal death, but because of Christ, we received something else: forgiveness and eternal life. That is God’s mercy on full display.

As Christians, if we truly understand how just God is and the mercy He has shown, we will forever be grateful for what He did through Christ. It is something that we will thank God for every single day.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the mercy You have shown me by making me alive, rather than being dead in my trespasses. Thank You for saving me by Your grace. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus, who lived the life I should have lived, died the death I should have died, and was resurrected after three days. Because of my sin, I deserved your wrath, but because of Your mercy, which I can only find in Christ, I am now forgiven. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What does the Bible say about seeking justice?

As mentioned before, there are two things you can pray for related to justice and mercy. The one we talked about earlier is in the relation between God and us. We thank God every day for the mercy He has shown us in Christ. Another thing we can pray for is about the world. The things you can pray for every day are not just limited to your concerns or the concerns of your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. You can and should also pray for matters regarding this world. For example, you can pray that justice will always be served. 

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

The Bible says that prayers, intercessions, and supplications must be made for all, including people in the government. When you pray for justice to be served in your nation, it is natural that you must pray for the government, especially the judicial branch that executes justice. 

Romans 13:1-5

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Romans 13:1-5 shows us that the government, including the judicial branch, are God’s appointed ministers and servants. They are there to punish evil and ensure that justice is served. That is why we have law enforcement to catch criminals and make sure that the guilty are convicted and punished by the law. Just as the Bible says, they are a sword, terrors to bad conduct. That is something you would want to pray for daily. You can pray for the government, especially the judicial branch, to be faithful in their duties and responsibilities to make sure that justice is served and the guilty don’t get away with breaking the law.

Here is how you can pray for the judicial branch of your government:

Father in heaven, I pray that You give grace to our law enforcement officers and the judiciary branch. May they always be faithful regarding their duties and responsibilities when upholding the law and seeing that justice is served. I pray that they uphold honesty and integrity, and always do what You intend for them to do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What is a prayer for mercy?

When we pray for mercy, we are praying for the people who were wronged. We pray for justice to be served for the criminals who have wronged others, while also praying for those who were wronged, so that they shall not be consumed with hate and bitterness. Instead, we pray that they shall show mercy towards those who have wronged them, no matter how grave the wrongdoing was.

Luke 6:36

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

For example, if someone has tried to rob you, but the robber was caught by the police, you may be tempted to lash out and be angry towards the robber. While there is nothing wrong with being upset and angry, we must be careful not to sin. Instead of showing wrath and bitterness towards the robber, we are told to show mercy instead. Mercy is something that a person deserves, yet was not given to him. Going back to the example, you can lash out at the robber because he wronged you, but showing mercy means not lashing out, and instead forgiving the robber and showing him compassion. You may show compassion by blessing the robber with an amount of money because he may have needed money and resorted to robbery in order to get it.

Matthew 5:38-42

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Romans 12:20

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Here is how you can pray for people who have been unjustly wronged:

Father in heaven, I pray for those people who others have unjustly wronged, so that they shall not be consumed with anger, hatred, and bitterness, but will instead show mercy and compassion towards those who have unjustly wronged them. Heal them from whatever pain that others may have caused them. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praying for people to show mercy and compassion instead of hatred to those who have wronged them is something you should pray for others and yourself. You will surely encounter people who will do you wrong, which is painful and unjust. That is why we can pray to God every day, so that He will give us the grace to be merciful whenever someone does us wrong.

Father in heaven, give me the grace to show mercy and compassion whenever someone does me wrong, no matter how painful and unjust it may be. Remind me of the mercy You have shown me. Just as You have shown me mercy, I should also show mercy towards others. Give me the grace to forgive and turn the other cheek instead. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The most important thing you can pray for non-Christians who were unjustly wronged is for them to encounter Christ in their life. Apart from knowing the grace and mercy that God has shown them through Christ, it is almost impossible for most of them to think of showing mercy, instead of being resentful.