I would like to share with you an important lesson I learned concerning appeals of prayer. It is a revelation that was given to me by the Lord some time ago. This teaching has greatly benefited my prayer life, and I am confident that it will also be beneficial to yours.
There are three appeals of Prayer; appeal for God’s righteousness, compassion and mercy.
Appeal for God’s righteousness
In this category, believers make an appeal to God in prayer, basing their request on the fact that they are right according to God’s law. By appealing to God’s righteousness, they are essentially asking Him to act on their behalf because they are in alignment with His perfect law.
The Bible teaches us that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne, so we can expect Him to be righteous and just in His actions. Therefore, when we have a case or situation that we want God to intervene, we can appeal to Him as the God of righteousness and justice, asking Him to exercise righteousness and justice in the matter.
An example of this kind of appeal from the Bible is Abel’s murder by Cain. The blood of Abel cried out to God, pleading for justice and vengeance. It pleaded with God, the righteous and just being, to intervene and ensure justice is served.
This type of prayer works perfectly when one lives by the law of God. By living righteously, you create a strong basis for your prayers to be answered. This is why I emphasize the importance of leading a righteous life, as it allows you to confidently approach God with your requests, knowing that He will answer you in accordance with His law.
Appeal for God’s compassion
Appeal for God’s compassion more often revolves around requests for favors from Him. God is a good Father, and when we pray for favors, He graciously grants our requests.
These are the most common prayers made by believers, where the favor we ask for may not necessarily be contained in God’s laws. This appeal is simply a personal desire that we seek to satisfy with the help of God.
A perfect example that falls under the appeal for God’s compassion is the prayer for a financial breakthrough. This is because a financial breakthrough is primarily our desire in order to live a specific lifestyle.
Therefore, we seek God’s favor to provide us with the necessary finances to support that desired lifestyle.
It is important to remember that when appealing to God’s compassion, it is ultimately His decision whether or not to grant us His favor. Additionally, if He grants us the favor, it will be in accordance with His plans and purposes.
In the Book of Psalms 37:4 it is written, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart”
God is aware of our desires, but it is important to remember that He desires a relationship with us. This is why He asks us to come to Him and share our requests. By doing so, He will grant us those favors.
Therefore, we should not neglect seeking God’s help when we have specific needs or when we are feeling discouraged. By expressing our feelings and needs to Him, we are appealing to His compassion. God will respond out of His love for us as His children.
Appeal for God’s mercy
The third category is the appeal for God’s mercy. This prayer mostly applies when seeking forgiveness for wrongdoings. When we repent, we acknowledge our mistakes and ask God for His mercy.
It is important to remember that God is always willing to show mercy; we only need to ask. There are times when we disobey God’s instructions and face consequences. In such situations, it is essential to appeal to God for His mercy and forgiveness.
An illustration from the Bible is the story of the thief who was crucified alongside Jesus. Despite his wrongdoing of breaking God’s law by stealing, he humbly asked Jesus to remember him when He joins the Father in heaven. Jesus, showing mercy, promised him a place in paradise. This particular story serves as a powerful reminder of God’s willingness to offer us his mercy.
Conclusion
These are the three Appeals that I personally employ when I want to appeal to God. I usually pause to ask myself which aspect of God I am appealing to – is it His righteousness, His compassion, or His mercy?
If I am confident that I am right and that what I am appealing for aligns with the word of God, then I pray, appealing to God’s righteousness.
On the other hand, if what I am appealing for is simply my preference and not something that I necessarily deserve, I appeal to His compassion.
Lastly, if I am aware that I have done wrong and I need forgiveness, I usually pray and ask for God’s mercy.