A Prayer About God’s Compassion

A prayer about God’s Compassion - Knowing his heart

HEAVENLY FATHER,

I’ve heard the story of Jonah many times. So I know about his disobedience to your command to go to Nineveh. But I find myself identifying with Jonah because the Ninevites were such brutal enemies of Israel; and I’m sure he would have loved to see Nineveh judged by God, wiped out. No wonder Jonah felt sorry for himself and depressed at the outcome. Then your final recorded message to Jonah put everything in perspective and revealed your heart for all people, even those who violently oppose you and your children. What a convicting message for me. When I hear about terrorists pursuing, torturing, and murdering Christians, I am saddened and angered, and I hope and pray those terrible people will be eliminated. Yet you have compassion for them, and so should I. Regardless of what they have done, they need to know the truth about you and to come to faith in Christ. So I pray that you will open their eyes and draw them to yourself.

The LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:10-11