Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy

I’ve been struggling lately with an unforgiving spirit towards someone. I’ve committed the issue to prayer and asked the Lord to help me work this out. And, while I long for a more forgiving spirit, when I compare my heart to God’s I realize how totally inadequate my ways truly are. How can I ever come even close to offering the kind of grace God freely gives each of us? Here’s what it says in the Psalms (103:6-18 MSG)



God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he's rich in love.
He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we're made of mud.
Men and women don't live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God's love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.


Let’s take time to thank God today for the mercy and grace that he continues to show us. Let’s also ask Him to grow in us a spirit of forgiveness so we can be a better reflection of his love in this world.

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