Wednesday, January 18, 2012

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 18


PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD


DAY 18
GOD IS MERCIFUL


A definition of Mercy I have seen describes it as "Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm"!


This perfectly describes our Holy God! The great and wonderful favorite prophet of mine - Jeremiah wept over the destruction of Jerusalem when God sent the Babylonians to accomplish His Will at the time. For the first two and a half chapters, Jeremiah "lamented" the ruins and devastation which Judah's idolatry and paganism had wrought, but then he said these famous words:
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
  “therefore I will hope in him.”

(Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV)


Over 2000 years later, these words led to the great hymn of the Faith "Great is Thy Faithfulness"!



Merciful is His Name! Almighty God is the God of Mercy!

Look again at the definition of Mercy .."compassion ..toward someone..." whom it is within One's power to punish! God is going to punish sin and whether we admit it or not, we are ALL sinners. Sin will either be punished or it can be paid for, and the penalty removed.


For the majority of the world, which lives in rebellion, they WILL be punished. That includes weak or fake Christians!



But if the Lord is YOUR portion. If He is YOUR Savior, the penalty will be removed. This penalty will be pardoned. In this life, the consequences of sin may linger, but God's Grace and Love will get you through it.


ACTION POINT TODAY, READ & PRAY THIS SHORT PASSAGE:
But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
(Deuteronomy 4:29-31 ESV)



CLAIM THIS PORTION OF THE PASSAGE:
For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them. 


PLEASE PRAY WITH ME:
Father, in the Name of Jesus and most Merciful and Gracious God, thank You for Your love for sinners such as I. Lord, You saw us in our weakened estate, lost and drifting into oblivion as we are, yet You reached down through Christ and pulled us out of the muck and mire and put a new song in our heart, a hymn of Praise to our God - YOU, Abba Father!


You had every right to punish and destroy Jerusalem as Your servant Jeremiah saw and to send disasters all around us today, but still oh God, You have withheld Your Mighty Hand of Judgment against us, until that day, so that many will be saved and come to know You as God, as the One True God of Heaven!

Father, from the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, the Name of the Lord is greatly to be praised and I praise Your Mercy. I praise Your Kindness. I praise Your Goodness. I praise Your Holiness. I praise Your Worthiness.


You, oh God are worthy to be praised! Your mercy endureth forever!

You, oh God are worthy of worship! Your Majesty shines over all the earth!
You, oh God are worthy of wonder! Your Rule over the universe is Sovereign!
You, oh God are worthy of fear! Your Justice will prevail in days to come!

You, oh God are worthy of respect! Your Truth is embedded through eternity!
You, oh God are worthy of surrender! Your Presence will make every knee bow!
You, oh God are worthy of ALL, Your mercy endureth forever!


Lord, You are my Portion in the Land of the Living, an oasis in a dry and thirsty land and I love only You and thank You, with all my heart and soul and mind, in the Name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, amen and amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS SOVEREIGN!

(IMAGE BY BING IMAGES)

No comments: