“Mercy and Grace”

 Psalm 6:1, 2

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me

in your rage.  Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak.  (NLT)

  

     It is never easy to break the old habits of sin; it is simply our nature to oppose the righteous ways of God to go our own way.  Because of our stubborn pride it is never easy admitting our fallen human weaknesses to resist the sin that we so love to indulge in.  But I find the closer I am to God and His will for my life, the better equipped I become in fighting the sin that I so easily fall prey to without the protection and wisdom of the Lord.  And when I find myself being tempted by this evil world, I am reminded of just how in need we are of God’s mercy and grace.  No matter how good or strong we think we are, we would all justly receive what we deserve; the condemnation of God and the eternal punishment that is rightly due.  What a blessed gift we have in knowing that whenever we fall short of God’s holy standards we can immediately seek God’s forgiveness and gain yet, another chance to get it right.  It is never easy living a godly life in this ungodly world. 

     It is impossible to fully escape the God opposing, worldly temptations that promise incredible pleasure and happiness, because they surround us on every side trying to gain entrance into our hearts to get a foothold on our lives.  If you are to win the never ending battles between good and evil; those evil temptations that want to destroy your hope and entrap your soul, you must put on the armor of God, because without it you are no match for the powers of darkness that rule this world.  No matter how strong or godly we aspire to be, we will always fall prey to the sin that is deserving of God’s rebuke.   When you are humble before God, sincerely seeking His incredible transforming Power, you can be sure that His amazing grace will always be sufficient in your times of struggle.  For when your heart is right with God, my friend, so too, is your life.

                                                                

                                       A Whisper of Hope

I came into this world…to give you life—one that would give you hope and peace and joy in spite of the corrupt world you live in.  By living in Me you will find the mercy and grace and forgiveness you need until I return to make all things right and dispose of what is not.  Be faithful and true, My child, and know that the gift I offer does not depend on you—but on Me!

Titus 3:4-6

But then God our Savior showed us His kindness and love.  He saved us,

not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy.  He washed

away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.  He generously

poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did.  (NLT)

            So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle. 

           Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.

                                 (Jeremiah 10:24)