Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
The Jesus Prayer
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Maker of the bread from the wheat of my life
Savior of my soul, anointed Christ
Eternally begotten son
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Forgiveness and love, when I stumble and fall
Compassion and mercy, have mercy, oh God
As far as the east is from the west, so far are our sins
In the mind of God through Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
The lyrics to John Michael Talbot's song The Jesus Prayer are a call for mercy and forgiveness from Jesus Christ, the son of God. The repetition of the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinful one" is reminiscent of the Jesus Prayer, a prayer used in Eastern Christianity to bring one closer to God through humility and repentance. The first verse recognizes Jesus as the maker of the bread of life and the savior of the soul, and acknowledges his divine and human nature. The second verse focuses on the power of forgiveness and God's mercy, emphasizing that no sin is too great to be forgiven through Jesus.
The repetition of the prayer throughout the song serves as a powerful reminder of the need for humility and repentance in our walk with Christ. The use of imagery, such as the bread of life and the distance between our sins and God's mercy, adds depth and meaning to the lyrics. Overall, the message of the song is one of hope and redemption through the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God
Acknowledging and addressing the divine nature and identity of Jesus, who is believed to be the son of God in Christianity.
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Asking for forgiveness and compassion from Jesus, acknowledging one's own sinful nature and the need for redemption.
Maker of the bread from the wheat of my life
Recognizing Jesus as the one who sustains and provides for one's physical and spiritual needs, using the metaphor of bread made from wheat.
Savior of my soul, anointed Christ
Identifying Jesus as the one who saves and redeems one's soul, acknowledging his role as the anointed one, or messiah, in Christian theology.
Eternally begotten son
Affirming the belief in Jesus as having always been the son of God, existing in a divine, eternal nature.
Yet born to this world through Mary
Acknowledging the human birth and physical manifestation of Jesus in the world, through the virgin Mary according to Christian tradition.
Forgiveness and love, when I stumble and fall
Expressing the belief in Jesus as a source of forgiveness and love even in times of failure, acknowledging one's own shortcomings and the need for divine mercy.
Compassion and mercy, have mercy, oh God
Appealing to God for a compassionate and merciful response in times of struggle or difficulty, acknowledging the dependence on divine grace.
As far as the east is from the west, so far are our sins
Using a metaphor to express the belief in the complete forgiveness and removal of sins through Jesus, who represents an infinite distance between sin and redemption.
In the mind of God through Jesus
Positioning Jesus as the mediator between humanity and God, expressing the belief that Jesus enables a direct connection between human beings and the divine.
Have mercy on me, a sinful one
Repeating the central theme and plea of the prayer, acknowledging one's own sinful nature and asking for divine mercy and forgiveness.
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Friar Rodney Burnap
Frequently in Christianity, a distinction is made between "liturgical" and "non-liturgical" churches based on how elaborate or antiquated the worship; in this usage, churches whose services are unscripted or improvised are called "non-liturgical".
I was a assistant Pastor for the Assemblies of God for almost 10 years . . .one day I was looking through some song books that were dated back to the 1930's. And these were Assemblies of God song books . . .to my amazement there was written literary in these song books that was used . . .by Pastors in the early days of the A/G.
In my heart I said I would never use liturgy In my church services and worship times.
The Holy Spirit checked my heart and told me I was just being religious.
I thought to myself that this was just me and my own thinking saying that . . .
But over a year God dealt with me about liturgy . . .
All hymns that we sing is liturgy . . .the Lord's prayer is liturgy and the very bible is written liturgy. Every church service is liturgy or (a order of service) you sing 4 or 5 songs, tell the announcements collect the offering prays are prayed a sermon preached . . .some churches still have a altar call, then prayers of dismissal and everyone go's out to eat some where. This is all liturgy.
Like a radio there are a lot of frequencies out there in the world . . .sin comes in many sounds, vis·u·al a·cu·i·ties. God spoke everything into existence, Jesus is the spoken word of God, faith comes by believers speaking it. Harmonics of the Spoken Word can products life or death. God doesn't habit every frequency. Not everything you do is pleasing to God, many things grieve the Holy Spirit.
The Vibratory formulae ...or Harmonic Resonance; when you worship God, individually or with others, you are Resonating a Frequency that only God, can Harmonize too. . .all other frequency res·o·nances, do not set up a Harmony Resonance that God, can Resonate too, ....God in Habits our Praises because he Resonates on that Frequency . . . It's not religious in the modern vernacular of the word . . .I love spending time in the presence of God . . . The More we worship God the more we spend time in God's Plane of Existence . .
Using candles and burning incense can help set up a vis·u·al a·cu·i·ty, to help us focus on God and be less distracted by the other frequencies around us . . .Using written liturgies like Hyms and Prayers can help us stay focus on the worship at hand, dialed into or more clarified to the Holy Spirit.
There are a lot of voices out there in the world, trying to draw your attention away from God, there is only one frequency we need to be dialed into, and there is only one order of service that let's us Harmoies with God and it's the Blood of Jesus. . .being applied by faith to a sinners heart.
I love liturgy now . . .it helps me resonate with God in Christ Jesus in Harmony with all that is Holy and Righteous.
Bernie Pineda
I like your worship songs 😊👍
Nirmala Dsouza
Beautiful heaven came down to earth
Converse Access Television
Thank you and God bless.
suzyQ1948
Now that is really praying. Just beautiful. I read somewhere that when you pray in singing is like praying twice. Do you believe this? Just curious, because that is the only way I can pray & really mean what the words are saying.
mw izzie
When you sing and dance all of heaven celebrates, amen
Pamela Miranda
John Michael Talbot, I thank you so much for your music has helped me in so many ways. And you've got such a pure devotion to Christ, that's very beautiful to see.
Thank you and may God keep you all of the day's of your life. In Christ Jesus's Name I pray Amen. 💖🕊🙏
~P~
mw izzie
Thank you so much. Beautiful prayer. Jesus comes to my heart when I sing it.
Pete Paras
When the heart pours out sincere expressions of adoration and reverence ,Jesus is very pleased to come in the midst of that love it welcomes His presence.
BarbieMak225
The Jesus prayer one of the few accepted by Orthodox Catholic and protestants may we unite in 🙏
Pete Paras
Jesus also prayed for this oneness in Him in John 17 :22,23 There are some very precious beloved Catholic people whom Jesus would love to draw to Himself ,draw out from dead hollow empty religiosity and old decrepid ways into the vibrancy and beauty of His Holy Spirit presence refreshing , so there hearts can be truly filled with God and encounter the wonder of His glory found in loving worship.