Text: Colossians 1:13-29, Philippians 2:1-11
John Stocker wrote a hymn, “Thy Mercy My God, Is The Theme Of My Song,” in 1776 that I discovered on the pages of a Gadsby’s Hymnal about ten years ago. I wrote a new melody to his four stanzas that afternoon, and these words have been an arresting companion for me in many changing seasons since that day.
Your mercy, my God.
This morning, I was heavy with sleep when my double alarms went off at 6:00 and 6:08. I was slow-moving to get out of bed, having been awake during the night thinking about my kids, their school progress, my work schedule and the intersection of all those life forces. And still that sun came up again today. The faithful mercies of God—they come every morning, whether I am bleary-eyed or bright. When the sun is hidden behind winter, overcast clouds, still this mercy, this morning is new. Still, the sun rises.
Today, His mercy is coming. I am reminded as I pray those words with my kids in the backseat on the way to school—His mercy is already here.
Without your sweet mercy, I could not live here.
Mercy is God giving us what we need when we don’t deserve an ounce of goodness. We can’t earn it. It’s a bold expectation, appealing for mercy when I don’t have anything measurable to contribute or to earn for myself. I can’t bargain with a Holy God. My appeal for grace is only and always Jesus.
Some days we see a quick answer to yesterday’s prayers. Some days we decidedly get the opposite of what we asked for. Some days, in the silence, we are just asked to wait. Most days are like that, I think.
I can say sometimes, like St. Paul, that I have learned to be content in lots of situations. But my contentment is fleeting. It slips through my fingers. And gratitude is both a practice and a gift to be received.
Your goodness, I own.
Here, John’s hymn proclaims another bold expectation. In the midst of our failings and fears, we are the recipients of LOVE by a fiercely loving God—an obliging God, even. He gives Himself to us again and again. It is as if we are the receiving address where He sends and supplies His goodness daily. I love the phrase in the Anglican communion liturgy that says, “For it is Your property always to have mercy.” Mercy is a demonstration of God’s abundant nature. In Philippians 2, we are reminded of how Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to the Father’s will. His faithfulness toward us is measurable by His provision—daily bread, of every variety.
“In him and by him and for him, all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16). In all things, Jesus holds the world together—the rhythms of our families, the rhythm of the sunrise, and everything in creation, held together by the sheer magnetic and dynamic force of His mercy. Mercy for you. Mercy for me. Mercy for the world.
________
Sandra McCracken is a singer, songwriter and producer from Nashville, TN. Over the course of eight critically acclaimed studio albums, Sandra has developed a body of work that encompasses hook-driven melodic pop, No Depression-style Americana, contemporary recastings of classic hymns, and even children’s music as part of the Nashville alt-folk super-group Rain For Roots. Her 2013 solo record, “Desire Like Dynamite” charted as one of Billboard’s Top 50 Heatseekers, and her new album, “Psalms” will be available this spring.
THY MERCY, MY GOD, IS THE THEME OF MY SONG
by John Stocker, 1776
Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy Ive found.
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
_________
Find an exclusive hand-lettered print with lyrics from “Thy Mercy, My God” in the She Reads Truth shop!
Click below to hear the hymn on the She Reads Truth |Hymns II Spotify playlist,
performed by today’s guest writer, singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken.
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127 thoughts on "Thy Mercy, My God"
His mercies are new every morning❤️
I am so thankful God’s mercy is new ever day. I am undeserving but he loves me and blesses me regardless because I am a child of God.
Thank You Oh God for Your great mercies!
Your mercies are new every morning, Great is your faithfulness!
I wonder at your mercy God❤️I’m so undeserving
Thankful for God’s mercy!
“Mercy is God giving us what we need when we don’t deserve an ounce of goodness.” So thankful!
Amen. By Him, all things hold together
This one has me thinking about God’s mercy. I’ve been questioning the existence of God, even though I’ve been raised in the church and even very involved as a young and independent 20-something. Recently, I’ve really wondered, “Why put stock in these stories? Is the Bible just a juxtaposition of good v evil? Is the notion of ‘God’ a picture of hope and mercy in a very dark world?” I don’t know. I guess, this is where faith comes in. Faith that God’s mercies are true and a grace needed in this world.
So I just bought this app cause I need some Jesus in me at this moment and a read something in this app which had said “His mercy is already here so which I’m thankful for!” I might not totally get this little quote but to me it means a lot cause I don’t tell the lord how thankful I am that he has put me on this beautiful world and blessed me with this amazing family that I’m grateful to have by my side! I love hearing beautiful voice every Sunday morning talking about what the lord has done for us and we just don’t a appreciate like what we should! I love you lord!!❤️✝️
Welcome, Maggie! We are so glad to have you reading God’s Word with us!
– Stormye
The only thing I disagreed with is, that God’s mercy is giving us something when we don’t deserve it. God’s mercy is Him NOT giving us what we deserve; whereas His grace is what He gives us when we don’t deserve it.
Without thy sweet mercy, I could not live here, sin would reduce me to utter despair! So rich and beautifully sung by Sandra McCracken❤️ Thank you Lord for forgiving our sins from yesterday, today and in the future!
Gods mercy and goodness will be my theme today!
I needed to be reminded of His mercies today. Thank you, Jesus that You never give up on me.
Thank you for your amazing mercy Lord❤️
Remember, Lord , your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Psalm 25:6 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.25.6.NIV
Have mercy on me, Lord , for I am faint; heal me, Lord , for my bones are in agony.
Psalm 6:2 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.6.2.NIV
Have mercy on us, Lord , have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.
Psalm 123:3 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.123.3.NIV
For the last four weeks, I have been battling terrible nightmares. Lately, I’ve laid in bed at night terrified to fall asleep. Tonight, this was such a sweet reminder that God’s mercies are new EVERY morning! In the midst of my chaos, He is constant in His character. Praise the Lord for He is faithful!
Psalm 91
Oh how I love this- thank you Lord for new mercies every morning!
Gods mercy surpasses all understanding because he is so merciful and loves us more than we could ever imagine. I want to be completely content in my faith throughout all situations and I pray that the Lord continues to show me the way.
Infinite mercy despite the fact we definitely don’t deserve it. What a wonderful thing to read about when you first wake up. Thank you for reminding me.
Thank God for His mercy
Thank u.
It really resonated with me that we can find contentment in all situations but it can be so fleeting. I feel that a lot, one day I’m content, the next I’m not. But his mercy is new every morning and that I’m grateful for even when I struggle with things in life.
Same here. I’m so thankful for His unending love.
I never heard this hymn before and love the words john stocker used to convey these truths. Gods word is so powerful, and sometimes so much more powerful when told through song.
I needed this.
“Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; Sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive.”
So powerful. Nice to be reminded of how He is here always.
I needed this today, this really touched my heart and made me think.
This really hit home for me today. I’ve been struggling with sin and shying away from God lately but knowing that his mercy is infinite is really breathtaking. God’s crazy love for me, even in my sin,blows my mind every day and I am just reminded of how awesome He truly is.
I stray daily from the goodness of God and from the wonder that is Jesus. Sometimes I deliberately choose sin. And, yet, because of Jesus’ obedience to die in my place, I can proclaim with boldness, “Thy mercy, I own.” That is incredible! Jesus, your mercy is great. Thank you for your mercy on and with me daily.
I needed the reminder that all things are hemmed in the mercy of Jesus. Where would we but for His grace?
Mercy for my soul, mercy to those, faltered are we, saved and redeemed in the light of the lord. When I come here and read my devotional, I’m saved again and again, how he can enter all our lives and keep us whole. I love my faith I love him who is our one true God! And I’m brought to tears of joy that my little one will grow up knowing this endless love as well!
Learned from this that I really need to show mercy!!! God showed mercy to all of us… So I can show mercy to someone who did me wrong once because this life isn’t centered around me
Your goodness, I own. — I love that.
This also really stuck with me. So beautiful
God lets me live even though I have sind
I just finished reading about God’s mercy for us and I feel so happy and peaceful in my heart. I feel like hugging every single person I come in contact with today! Thank you God, for your mercy.
Even though I dread waking up in the mornings and often complain about what I don’t have, I should be thanking Him for what I do have!
Amen to that
God bless you all for this amazing work, thanks Lord for all that I’ve got
Jesus was so faithful towards us he went to the cross. How many of us would do such a thing for all the murders, rapers, kidnappers, all the sinners in the world, no one but Him. Even the unbelievers he died for.
Jo today I was talking about my God being a merciful loving God. And here it is!
thanks for sharing
Wow I needed this. His mercy and grace is truly amazing and I could not ask for a better Father.
Have any of you ever struggled finishing up devotional reading? Like you have to force yourself to finish a reading but you don’t end up reading it with an open heart and feel like you don’t get anything out of it? This happened to me too many times, even though I don’t want to. A little help? I know I have to remind myself to God all the time, I do would like to get closer to Him, but sometimes it’s just hard to get focused, sometimes I even don’t know what to say in prayers.
Whether you believe you are getting something out of it or not, I encourage you to continue. God’s word is seeping in. You may not have an “aha” moment in each devotional; you may not feel an immediate connection, but continue. Also, when you struggle with prayer, tell God. He already knows what is on your heart and mind- prayer is where we build a friendship with him and friends talk. So talk to him. Call out his name. Tell him your fears and listen for his response. Remember, God already loves you and does not ask you to be anything beyond who he created you to be. You don’t need to achieve more or have more or be more. In God’s eyes you are already enough. So, relax into him. Don’t pressure yourself about devotionals. Don’t fret about your prayer life. Allow yourself to feel his love, his mercy, his grace.
Thanks for your encouragement, that’s helpful!
When I started out reading bible studies I didn’t really think I’d get much of anything out of it. I did it out of obligation, feeling the need to be a “better Christian” and out of resentment that when my boyfriend broke up with me he told me I “wasn’t religious enough”. But even going into with that attitude, I have gotten so much out of these. I have found great comfort in the scriptures and in the thoughts the devotionals provoke–even when I only skim them. Maybe it’s the very reason–I expected nothing and it completely exceeded my expectations.
It did feel like an obligation to me.. But yes i intend to try to keep it up my best, thanks for sharing
Whenever I feel like devotions are “a bit of a drag” I don’t try to over do it. I’ll pick a book in the bible and just read as much as I feel I can really focus on. sometimes it’s a chapter or two sometimes just a couple paragraphs. But I always write about it after, so that whatever it is I did read I’m making sure to let it sink in and focus on that bit. I find for me it’s better to get something out of a short small devo than just be wondering how much longer I’m going to have to scroll.
I love how God used this to remind me no, don’t be selfish. Put others before you. Love them no matter what!
I don’t know if anyone is experiencing the same thing as me right now but it just feels like selfishness is becoming way to popular in our world. We are constantly thinking how will it benefit me, how will if affect me. What do I want?
When perhaps if we turn our eyes away from ourself and turn them upward to God we will see so much more than ourselves.
I wonder if anyone knows of a good bible study app for men. my husband would like one.
“Solid joys” by John piper is a great one!!
It’s more of a daily devotional. But also “the Bible” app (YouVersion) now has similar devotion series like ones offered here.
“When the sun is hidden behind winter, overcast clouds, still this mercy, this morning is new. Still, the sun rises.”
Love it! Thank you, God!
Being able to sit back at the end of the day and read what God's mercy is all about is the perfect end to the day.:)
The fact that it’s new every morning without fail is so amazing. GOD knew that I would need another day to get it right and do a better job than the last day.
This. “Mercy is God giving us what we need when we don’t deserve an ounce of goodness. We can’t earn it. It’s a bold expectation, appealing for mercy when I don’t have anything measurable to contribute or to earn for myself. I can’t bargain with a Holy God. My appeal for grace is only and always Jesus”. Really nails it. It’s nothing about me. I can’t make God love me more (or less) because it’s never been about me at all.
P.S. I’ve never heard this song before!
What wonderful mercy we have from God. I loved this devotion.
Ah, first off, I was soooo excited to see Sandra writing today. Love her! I haven’t really thought about he word mercy- thankful for a gracious introduction!
I am having issues getting the links to work?? Just highlights them??
Try them on the website..
have a new habit, and I think its a good one to have. It revolves around mercy. Gods mercy. Gods Grace. Jesus love for me (and you) . As the days come and go I catch myself looking only to the bigger picture of my life. Some days are wonderful, filled with love and laughter. Others are hard, fighting fear and doubt. Quite often I have this thought, "This world is going to pass away. This is so temporary. I'm going to die (yes I go there). The only thing that wont fail me, is the love of God. His Mercy. The eternal life I will have because of his Son's sacrifice. HE SAVED ME. Oh Wow that is so so so good, and I don't deserve it. Thank you Lord." regardless of what is worrying me I can ALWAYS remember Gods mercy and love and the fact that I was bought with a price, and in a split second I have joy. I am revived. I know I can live here, because of his mercy.
Todays Hymn is so perfect for me. Yup. That's my song. That's the story of my life. That's my new habit. Thinking about mercy. Remembering the truth. Clinging to the cross. It helps.
Amen! Thank you God for your mercy…. for every day we fall short of your grace, yet every morning you restore us, you restore our strength, you give us a reason to carry on, you forgive our sins, and allow us to be victorious even when we don't deserve it. Holding on to this word today, while I go through some uncertain moments. Thank you for your mercy God even after I have doubted your word, you find it in your heart to forgive me and continue blessing me. May God bless you all sisters in this beautiful day.
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart, Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground, And weep to the praise of the mercy Ive found.
I’ve never heard or read this hymn before today but this verse speaks volumes to my heart. Even when I feel overwhelmed by the emotions and feelings that my heart pours out, he is MORE than a match for my heart. He can dissolve the hardness of my heart in an instant, and leave me on my knees in gratitude. Thank God for his mercy. Thank God for being able to handle me at my worst.
For the first time this morning, I GLIMPSE so fleetingly a minuscule part of the “WHYs” that my husband and I were just recently discussing pertaining God and creation…
Why create? Why set this whole thing up in the first place? Why?… KNOWING that Creation would turn away? WHY?… KNOWING you’d leave heavens glory to walk among a creation that would ultimately not understand and reject you, God?… AND WHY?… KNOWING before hand the horrifically tortuous DEATH waiting as means for redeeming these very souls who CHOSE to turn away?
I LOVE the author’s words…
“Mercy is God giving us what we need when we don’t deserve an ounce of goodness. We can’t earn it. It’s a bold expectation, appealing for mercy when I don’t have anything measurable to contribute or to earn for myself. I can’t bargain with a Holy God. My appeal for grace is only and always Jesus.”
“In the midst of our failings and fears, we are the recipients of LOVE by a fiercely loving God…”
“Mercy is a demonstration of God’s abundant nature.”
And there it is… I see it… “fiercely loving God” and “abundant nature”. Neither of to which I can naturally relate…
“…that He would grant you the ability to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, of the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge…”
(Ephesians 3:14-19)
His answer to my WHYs?… Fellowship. Communion. LOVE… A love that surpasses anything I can comprehend….
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found…
"Mercy is God giving us what we need when we don’t deserve an ounce of goodness." (excerpt from above)
Mercy is actually God withholding from us what we do deserve. So, as sinners we deserve eternal punishment, but God in His great love withholds that death sentence by showing His mercy through His Son. Grace is Him giving us what we don't deserve. We don't deserve a way out of that death sentence, but yet He gives it to us through His Son. LOVE IT!!
Beautiful song…this is the first I've ever heard it. And such a great reminder of God's GREAT LOVE for us when we indeed do not deserve it!
Thank you God for your mercy!
We sing this song at church. "thy free grace alone from the first to the last, has won my affection and bound my soul fast," always makes my heart leap. It is only by grace that I've been both drawn to God and loved by Him in the first place.
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine
To read this devotion and hymn this morning stirs my heart. To allow myself to think and dwell on the Mercy and goodness of the Lord in this way is so good in a world that comes at us constantly. But how can we not just rejoice in the love of the Lord in these things. I am sealed in him. He sees me and He loves me and there is nothing that can separate us from his love and mercy. It is ours and not because of us but because of the covenant love of thy crucified Son. What a great way to start my day. Dwelling on thy sweet mercy.
“As sure as the sun will rise, His mercy will not end” to quote the sweet Ellie Holcomb. I’ve been very blessed by Sandra’s words this morning, very well said.
It's no accident that Ann Voskamp's devotional thought today is also about mercy! She says "Hey Soul? He's handing you today completely new & fresh. Everyday is Day 1! No matter what happens today, every time you think "big mistake" — always know BIGGER MERCY. No matter the run of mistakes — God's mercy will never run out. No mistake is bigger than God's mercy." It's been emphasized twice already this morning, so it's going to be an awesome day, thank You, Jesus!
That’s great. Thanks for sharing.
I like the reminder that no matter what happened last night or yesterday, God still makes the sun rise the next morning.
Yes! I love that too, Bethany. Thanks for joining us today!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
“…the rhythms of our families, the rhythm of the sunrise, and everything in creation, held together by the sheer magnetic and dynamic force of His mercy. ” -I love how this is worded.
I’ve found that things go much better for my husband and I when we take time to pray together every day. When we invite God to be with us, to share our lives, He becomes the magnet that pulls us closer together and closer to Him. How great are His mercies!
I love (love, love, love!) the statement ” My appeal for grace is only and always Jesus”. What a beautiful truth!
Such sweet words–
"Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; Sin would reduce me to utter despair"
We are FREE from despair because of His great mercies, and we are able to be merciful to others by being imitators of Christ. ~Amen
"Some days, in the silence, we are just asked to wait. Most days are like that, I think." Yes they are. But God is good, even in the silence and the waiting. I struggle to believe this, especially when everything seems to be going wrong. But God does have that abundant nature, and because of His mercy, I can still find peace and comfort and maybe even rejoicing in the silence and the waiting.
Melody, I so agree! This really spoke to me as well. Sometimes I find the waiting so difficult and discouraging in my quest to control everything!
Pastor Mary from Life Church Olathe, Kansas told me about this website and I’m so grateful for that. This was a beautiful reading and puts me in the right spot to start the day. Thank You
I absolutely love this hymn….it really hit me this morning. I struggle to really grasp the magnitude of His mercy……his love. The fact that I am a cherished daughter. That He cares for and loves me more than I can ever imagine. That He is waiting for me…..waiting to comfort me, to rejoice with me, to help me, to listen…..waiting for me to come to Him.
Have a wonderful Wednesday Sisters!
~Heather
“God’s abundant nature”
I have never seen God in this way, being a Person with an abundant nature. Usually when I think about God’s mercy, I think of him as an old, kindly but tired judge, rather than someone who is eager to give mercy and full of… Well, everything. I haven’t ever thought of him that way.
I'm definitely in a difficult season right now, waiting for the Lord to move. I know there is nothing I can do to change these things in my life, only God can. He is able, and I believe He is willing, but sometimes it is so hard to wait. So hard to understand why we have to wait when we know what we're longing for is a good thing that will bring God much glory. As I grow weary and sad, I look to Him for the grace and mercy that I need to live each day. It is so true that contentment is fleeting. My emotions sway back and forth so much in this season and I can only cling to Him in hopes that He will soon help. Thank you Lord, that you are my ever-present help. Give me the strength I need, and please be glorified through my life.
Oh Lord please give Katie the strength and perseverance to keep waiting in expectant hope for you to guide her. God bless.
Thank you Beth!
Hi Katie K. I'm Katie M. I don't think you could have described the words I am looking for any better. I am in a season of waiting and man my emotions are like a roller coaster, so up and down. Not just daily, but hourly they can change at warp speed. I remind myself everyday that I am pleased to suffer in the shadow of the cross if that is what it takes to bring God glory. Waiting for something that you know is SO good, and just around the corner is the hardest thing ever. It's right there, I can almost grab it, but I cannot because I know God is still working. It's joy and sorrow in the same sentence. I fully understand what it's like to have joy and sadness in the same day, the same hour. God has shown me I am birthing something new but it doesn't make the pain of waiting any easier. I am praying for you Katie K. Patience and that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Hi Katie, thank you so much. Praying for you too :) How wonderful to have this community where we can relate in our struggles and lift one another up in prayer
I have been familiar with this hymn, in particular Sandra’s version, for many years…it always brings me right where I need to be: at the feet of Jesus. It made me smile and immediately start to hum the melody when I opened up the blog post and started reading. Thank you for sharing!!!
I am beyond thankful for the salvation and redemption that I have in Jesus!! I pray that my attitude and all that I do is that of Christ Jesus.
“He gives Himself to us again and again.”
His goodness. His provision. His unfailing, steadfast, unrelenting love. This life we have is a gift from our great Father. I pray I may never take a second for granted. I want to leave a legacy of hope and love and joy.
“Contentment is fleeting.”
Oh, but isn’t it. The only eternal, never changing one in my life is God. My feelings ebb and flow, tossed about by the waves of life. But God is always there. Always present and He is not at the whim of my feelings. Amen!
He is so good. Praising God’s goodness and mercy this morning.
Col.1-23~”if you continue in your faith, established and firm,and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel”. This spoke to me this morning. Lord help me to continue to grow my faith and hold on the hope that you are.
So very grateful for His mercy!
Beautiful!
My Dad was a recycler. Although I am confident that is not the term he'd have chosen, he was. If something broke or stopped working, he'd examine the item. He would look it over and determine if it was repairable. If not, he'd take it apart and keep the pieces that he could use for something else later; screws, springs, nails, you name it. Dad would take the salvageable items from his workbench, place them in little labeled glass jars (also recycled) and put them on large metal shelves we had in our many garages. I knew my father did this, but over the years, it became so customary that I took for granted the whys or how muches….it was as religious as teeth brushing, it just was. Not long after my Dad died, my sisters and I had to go through my parent's things in preparation for a move for my Mom. When we got to the garage, we were astounded, more little glass jars than we ever would have guessed, lovingly tucked away and placed with anticipation of future use. We smiled and laughed …. a lot. We'd moved a ton and each time, our Dad insisted we get rid of the "unnecessaries" and he wasn't easily swayed to meet our differing opinion of what was important. Moves are expensive and the more we were willing to part with, the less it would cost and yet, here we were, with these little glass jars toted around for a lifetime. My Dad saw them as more than old screws and nails, he saw life in them, a purpose. His frugality turned into belief that everything could be renewed and I think it must have pained him to consider leaving these behind.
That process reminds me of God' s mercies, they are limitless. He examines each of us and takes what He can use and removes what He can't. He dusts off our hides when we've fallen or have been hurt, polishes us off and finds place for us in His kingdom. He gives us each a special purpose that we are specifically designed for and and runs through His library of mercies to tuck into us all the pieces, parts and tools we need to achieve that purpose. He will never toss us aside and will go to great lengths to save us. We are precious to Him, even though we are rusty, marred and weakened….He sees our value and provides many mercies in our daily renewal. He won't leave us in our old and broken state, He will revive us and give us new life…..even when we deserve to remain in our heap of errs, lack of workings, troubles and damaged choices, He whispers to us "No, love. You are more than this. You are more precious than any precious metal. You are my daughter, my child and there is a place for you, a purpose in you. I will never leave you and I will never forsake you."
Just as my Dad had more jars than I had ever imagined, God has more mercies than we have sin. It will always outweigh our wrongdoing, our injury. The scale should always be tipped, but God, in His great love of us just smiles, grabs the mercy we need and places it tenderly to balance it out. ~ B
Love this story! ♥
"God has more mercies than we have sin." My perspective says my sin is too much. But God's great love and holiness say that His mercy is far greater than I could ever imagine. Thanks for sharing your story!
You touched my heart this morning….thank you so much for sharing!
That’s wonderful!
Remaining thankful for His mercy while in the circumstances I am in and have been in the last year or so is tough. I am weary and tired and I don’t know what to do anymore or how to think. It’s just all hitting me right now and there is no joy in my heart this morning. Life is tough. Circumstances don’t change. It’s so hard to remain thankful.
Yaneli, I pray that you may hold fast to Truth. With God ALL things are possible. Praying God’s sweet love and mercy would wrap you up each day.
Thank u, I really really appreciate your prayers ! I’m trying sister! But the waves are crashing o so hard
Prayer lifted for you Yaneli… ((hugs))
Thank you so much!!
Praying that the Lord would bring you joy today Yaneli. It IS hard to remain thankful in rough waters. Reminds me of another hymn “When I think I’m going under, part the waters Lord. When I hear the waves around me, calm the sea. When I cry for help oh hear me Lord and hold out Your hand. Touch my life, still the raging storm in me.” Praying you will feel the Lord’s outstretched hand to you.
Thank you. Those lyrics are beautiful and exactly how I feel.
simply needed, simply beautiful!
Amen, Amanda!
I can feel so entitled, so deserving of the things I desire. You hear it in advertisements, "buy this; you DESERVE it." The lawyers stand in front of an accident, promising to get you the money you DESERVE. My husband talks of the entitlement he battles at work, employees who think the hospital is there to serve them instead of the employee serving the hospital. Mercy rises from a different heartbeat. It gives what we do not deserve, what we cannot earn. Mercy, when fully realized, changes my heart from the sin of self to worship through service. His mercy becomes "the boast of my tongue" as I allow my perceived self-importance dissolve in the goodness of God.
My husband works at a hospital as well and entitlement is often part of our conversations. I have realized what an unhappy life entitlement creates. If you think everything is owed to you, you never rejoice in the wonderful blessings you receive. You never see the overflowing mercies of the Lord until you realize how truly undeserving you are to receive them. When I come to the realization of my depravity, my heart if filled with joy at the amazing gift of Jesus!
Amen!
Thank u for sharing, that is so true
Love this quote from Piper. “For those who see the merciful hand of God in every breath they take and give credit where it is due, Jesus Christ will be seen as the great purchaser of every undeserved breath . Every heartbeat will be received as a gift from His hand.
Thank you dear sisters for your kind messages and prayers. Oh how precious is the Lord’s constant mercy to this faltering sinner!! I can never run out of mercy! There’s no limit to His grace!
I haven’t heard of this hymn before and I love it so much! I just love this part, “He that first made me, still keeps me alive.” I may falter and stumble along the road, but it is Him who sustains me. I am alive because of His mercy. I have purpose. I am here because He wants me here!
My Dear Father,
May thy mercy, my God, be the theme of my song, the anthem of my life…
The joy of my heart….always, and the boast of my tongue; whatever my situation…
Lord, I pray, thy free grace alone, of which, I do not deserve, from the first to the last,
Has won my affections, my respect, my praise, and bound my soul fast….and forever..
Without Thy sweet mercy, Lord, I could not live here; I would be rotten…through and through…
Sin would reduce me to utter despair; and cause me to fail… over and over..
But, through Thy free goodness, Lord, my spirits revive,, change and becoming more like you…
And He that first made me still keeps me alive., protected, secure and STILL loved… whatever mistakes I make, whatever the mess..
Your mercy, Lord God, is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, Lord, I fall to the ground, knowing you hold me, right where I fall, and as I am, filthy from self choices, wrong doing..
And weep to the praise of the mercy I've found in YOU Lord God… You save me, every day…everyday You save me…
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own, guide me to be a good steward of this gift of Love…
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son; Jesus..who purchased these mercies each day for me…for us…
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine….
Thank you, thank you thank you Lord..for this , your mercy Lord God…New and life giving every day…without your sweet mercy, I dare not imagine where I'd be…Thank you Lord, for everything…Amen…
Sending a whole heap of love and prayers to and over you all, my sister's today…Be abundantly and totally Blessed today…xxx
_________
Love this devotion!
He’s such a good father! This was exactly what I needed to read. Sin has no hold on us when we understand the power of his grace, his unfailing goodness towards us.
Amen, Brooke! He IS such a good Father! Grateful for you, friend!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
His mercy is so abundant.
I was so lost, Father. I was scared, God. I ran from you, Jesus. I believed the enemy, Lord. Never, not ever, shall You lose me again. I am your sheep, your daughter; You are my shepherd, my Father. In your son’s almighty name, I trust, in Jesus name amen!
I am with you, Hope. I did the same. I praise God for the faith he has given you. I pray that you rest in the love that He gives which we can never earn but he lavishes upon us.
I’m so thankful for his mercy in my life. Sweet grace and mercy that comes just when I need it most. Last year I had an incredible experience that I knew without a doubt could only have been Christ in me. It was a life changing moment looking back. There’s no way I could ever have had the strength and mercy in my own heart to respond to the situation the way that I did. We have access to this grace and mercy everyday! As we have been given so should we give it to others.
Hayley, thank you so much for speaking these words of hope to us today! We love having you in our community!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
God mercy for me shows that I should have mercy I my mother even if she disowned me I should forgive an show her mercy and let her know that I pray for her to get right with The Lord. The lords mercy shows me things I’m grateful for in my life with my family. Thank you lord for giving me ur mercy.
Tiffiny, thank you so much for your vulnerability. I'm so grateful for your bravery-filled words of Truth! What a merciful Father He is!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth