“…but of God that sheweth mercy.”

 

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Rom. 9: 16

There is infinite comfort and assurance in trusting in God’s mercies, for His mercies are infinite (Ps. 103:11).

We find rest.

Lord, let me begin my day in the rest of faith – faith in your mercy; and, end my day with the rest of faith.

New mercies sustain us morning by morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

As we give thanks for His new mercies, we are satisfied and refreshed in a new way.

We may safely trust God for mercy.

…I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. Psalm 13: 5

Help me, Lord, to learn this anew today and each new day. Amen.

  

Your mercies, O Father of mercies and God of all comfort! I come for your mercy.

Your mercies are sure for me when I ask humbly.

May your mercies come to me this morning.

Your mercies are new every morning.

May I not depend on my willing, O Lord, but depend on your grace to help me to will.

I come to do your will, O my God. May your mercies sustain me.  

May I not depend on my running, O Lord, but depend on your grace to help me to run in your footsteps. 

I praise you for your mercy, Lord. I thank you for your mercy.  I rejoice in your mercy.

Amen.

“…the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort…”

 

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

2 Cor. 1:3-5

In this passage we read that the Father comforts. In John 14 the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter.  In Isaiah 61 we read that Jesus came to comfort those who mourn. Lord God, I give thanks.

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,” Matt. 5:4. The blessing is: The comforts of the Lord draw us into close fellowship with Him. God has “oil of joy” – anointing – for our mourning (Isa. 61:3). Offering our sorrows to God – possibly the best offering we can make when we are hurting – draws us into close fellowship with Him, and brings anointing upon our lives. Jesus Christ [Christ = “the anointed”] was “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” Isa. 53:3.

“as the sufferings of Christ abound in us” – we suffer for Christ’s sake in doing God’s will: serving others sacrificially, enduring afflictions patiently, denying our own will in temptations and trials.

[Note: This is the first day of the last quarter of 2014; let us give thanks and trust the Lord.]

 You are the “God of all comfort” for all situations. Father, I bless you for your comforts that are streaming forth towards me unceasingly as light from the sun. I need your comforts always, O Father of mercies and God of all comfort. I bless you for the Comforter — the Holy Spirit.   I trust you for grace so I may comfort someone. Send me to someone who is hurting, Lord. O Father of mercies, may I be found merciful.

I come to you, Lord Jesus: may the Father’s comforts come to me through you. Remembering the sufferings of Christ, I humbly offer to you my light afflictions.

“our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” – Lord, I bless you for your goodness. Lord, I rejoice in your consolations.  Amen.

“…I will have mercy…”

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matt. 9:10-13

 

[“mercy” = God’s attitude to us when we are in distress; loving-kindness; covers our sins. “I desired mercy, and not sacrifice.” This is quoted from Hos. 6:6; same in Matt. 12:7. Jesus’ mercy led Him to befriend sinners.]

 

As we incline our hearts to show mercy, God’s mercy covers us in all our needs, Matt. 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Is there someone to whom I may show mercy today, Lord? Mercy enables us to forgive freely and fully; mercy enriches us to give freely and abundantly.

Mercy comes first, not sacrifice (sacrifice = conformity to the letter of the law). This is especially important for parents in their relationship with their children (Ps.103: 13). Jesus said in Matt. 12:7: “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” This was in response to those who complained that His disciples broke the Sabbath when they picked the heads of grains and ate.

 

 

O Father of mercies (2 Cor. 1:3), help me see where I have failed to show mercy, so I may repent, show mercy, and receive mercy. Lord, I come to the Mercy Seat (Heb. 4:16).

May my heart be always inclined to mercy, Lord.  May I be occupied with deeds of mercy. Thankful that I have received mercy at the cross, Lord, let me not delay to show mercy. Amen.