NEW LIFE, NEW MERCIES
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)
These two verses mean quite a lot to me. I first heard them many years ago when I was a student at camp. Each year, the counselors would stand up and share some parting verses with us on the final morning of camp. I don’t think I even knew that Lamentations was a book of the Bible at that point. But these two verses have stuck with me all these years.
The Lord is faithful, and His love is unending. This can be difficult to fully grasp because the truth is I’m an unfaithful person whose love is conditional. The fact that God is unwavering in not only who He is but in His love for me—mind-blowing.
Additionally—His mercies never cease! Mercy is one of those church words that we sing a lot, but maybe don’t think about the definition of very often. Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve. Mercy is not receiving what you do deserve. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). That’s what we deserve. But God’s mercies never cease. He is a good, gentle, kind, patient Father.
Then verse 23 drops the best news: His mercies begin afresh each morning. Every single day is a chance to start over with King Jesus. If and when you stumble and fall, know that He is merciful. Know that each day is a fresh start for you in His eyes.
Consider this quote from the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon: God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.
APPLICATION:
Take a moment to thank God for second chances. For fresh mercy each day. Confess to Him anything currently creating separation in your relationship with Him.
PRAYER:
Father, thank You for the blessing of every day is a chance to start over. Your mercy is such a wonderful gift. Grow within me a zeal and drive to remain faithful to You in all things. In the name of Jesus, I make this prayer, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?