His Mercy Endures Forever

    I've covered goodness, love and even grace in previous blogs, it's mercy's turn. My first thought when I started this was, "I love how goodness and mercy follows me all the days of my life". Psalm 23:6 says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” (NKJV) I didn't realize it, but they've been chasing me since I was born again. Actually they were chasing me before I knew my own name.  Fact of the matter is, I've read that verse so many times before yet never was not able to quantify it properly. Since I couldn't wrap my heart around what my head already knew, I found myself going in circles chasing after them in my own strength. Reality is, all I had to do was turn around and see them right behind me. That's a mind blowing thought. So everyday in every way and everywhere I go I'm blessed because of the goodness and mercy of God; especially the mercy of God. 

    What exactly is mercy, you ask? Several different definitions specifically in Greek and Hebrew say that it lies somewhere between lovingkindness, having pity for, showing compassion, and withholding punishment or due consequences. What I like is that at the core, it is a part of the very nature of who God is. It is like a woman who looks upon her child and falls deeply in love even after all the pain she has endured in childbirth. God gives mercy just like that. He feels just like that - about me! God said through the prophet Isaiah to the Children of Israel in chapter 49 verse 15,” ‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.’ “ (NKJV) This makes me so excited, humbled and very grateful. I am not forgotten. I am forgiven. I am treated with the utmost tenderness from the Almighty God of the Universe. Guess what? SO ARE YOU…Stop and think about that. 

    Seeing as how being merciless is more a fruit of man, it seems foreign at times for us to understand God’s mercy. I was reading Psalm 118 and from verses 1 to 25, it kept saying for His mercy endures forever. As the Psalmist started mapping out all that the Children of Israel had been through and how God kept showing up to deliver them, all they could say is that, “For His mercy endures forever.” Reading this made my spirit leap inside of me. The very idea that everything that was meant to take me out in one way, shape or form was stopped because God’s mercy endures forever. Whew! I have to take a breath. I could have died. I could have lost my mind, Oh but His mercy endures forever. Hallelujah!!

    Let me paint a picture for you. This is my testimony. There was a time when the Doctor told my mother that I would be disabled from birth, but His mercy endures forever. When I almost died in that near fatal car accident- His mercy endures forever. The times when Epilepsy tried to take me out, but His mercy endures forever. Those times I was broke and didn’t have enough finances to make ends meet yet somehow things turned around anyway; for His mercy endures forever. I will never forget when I almost lost my life to cancer, but am still here to tell it. His mercy endures forever. There was a time when my heart was broken, neglected, rejected and abandoned by those I loved, but God stepped in and healed me. His mercy endures forever. Now someone will read this and think that’s not my narrative. Maybe it’s not, but there is something that God has done to show you His mercy. Let me tell you again, it endures forever. 

    I want to remind you that God is NOT like man. His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”(NKJV)  He is watching over you every single day in every single way. He is showing up for you. He is not looking for the chance to harm you, but quite the contrary. He is looking for the opportunities to remind you of how compassionate He is. He wants to show you the deepest form of forgiveness imaginable. All you have to do is let Him in. Let Him into every part of your heart. Let Him into every space in your mind. Let Him overtake you in all aspects of your life. He wants to show you (yes you) that His mercy endures forever. 

Let’s pray: Lord, we first want to thank You for Your mercy that endures forever. You have given us so much compassion. As the older folks say, You have kept us from dangers seen and unseen. Lord, we are grateful. We thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for showing us the loving kindness that we may not deserve, but You insist on giving anyway. Thank You for being merciful. Thank You for being the God who does the impossible without expecting perfection from us. You created a space in Jesus Christ to receive Your mercy daily. Thank You for all that You give. We receive the mercy You offer without hesitation. We love You, Lord. You are amazing. We will praise You now and forever. For Your Mercy endures forever. 

If you are reading this and have never accepted Jesus as Your Lord and Savior this is the time. If you have once walked with God, but you have strayed away, here is your moment. There will never be a more ideal time than now to surrender your life to the One who loves you most. He wants to call you out of darkness into His marvelous light. No strings attached. No hidden motives. He just wants a relationship with you. If this is you please say the prayer below. 

Sinner’s Prayer: Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He died on the cross just for me. I also confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that He rose again on the 3rd day, paying my sin debt in full. He is now seated at the right hand of power, interceding for me to the Father. I thank You, Jesus, that as I pray this prayer and believe with my heart that You have saved me. I receive Your love and commit my life to You. You are now the Lord of my life. Thank You for all that You have done and will do for me in the future. In Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture references: Psalm 23:6 (NIV), Isaiah 49:15 (NKJV), Psalm 118:1-25, Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)

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Comments

Dria A. said…
My God! This really touched me. Thank you for sharing your testimony. I as well am grateful for God's mercy upon my life! Endures forever
August 4, 2023 at 10:26 AM
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