Promises of God

Joanna Whelton

Psalm 116:5

God is a gracious God who is righteous and full of mercy.

The words “gracious,” righteous,” and full of “mercy” mean compassionate, big-hearted, tender, cheerful, approachable, and kind. They also denote that God consistently acts in these ways. We can count on Him, morning, noon, and night to remain true to Who and What He is, as God. He loves us, 24/7, day in and day out. He is astonishingly wise and wholeheartedly benevolent and helpful. He can't be anything else because He is our enduringly faithful God.

Psalm 86:5 also gives us a clear picture of God's character. It states this: “O Lord, You are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.”

Do we ask for God's aid? If we don't, what can we expect? If we do, what can we expect? These are two crucial questions as we attempt to live our lives, on a day-day-basis. Are we flailing about, drifting, and rambling, or are we mindfully walking the path, in the direction that God has set for us?

Wander and ramble, or trust and obey? Do we choose to stay focused on what God tells us to do, or do we “do our own thing”? How has the latter worked out? Sometimes okay, yet oftentimes not okay?

Can we follow what God tells us to do in Psalms 86:11-13? God says: “Tell me where you want me to go, and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name. With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever, for you love me so much! You are constantly so kind! You have rescued me from deepest hell.”

Do we choose to magnify our own willful and finite ways of handling life, or do we choose God's loving-kindness and His infinite, limitless wisdom for us and for our lives? All we need to do is to ask God for His answers to our daily questions and to trust that He provides us with His clear-sightedness for us.

As Proverbs 1:23 and James 1:5-8 say: “Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise.” And “If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Holy Spirit. He loves to help. You'll get his help and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believing, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all of your options open.”  Wander and ramble, or trust and obey? What's your choice?

Thank You, God, for Your tender, cheerful, approachable, and kind faithfulness.

I pray that I always choose to remember how superbly gracious You are and that You are ceaselessly and perpetually longing for me to come to You for Your answers. You are my all-knowing, all-wise, and all-loving God.

Thank You, Lord, for Your big-heartedness toward me. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for redirecting me whenever I forget that God's way for me is the best way for me and thank You that You teach me how to trust in God's unfailing consistency and grace.

I love You, Lord. I praise You. I worship You, and I adore You. Thank You, Lord, that I am Yours, and that You are mine.

I submit this prayer in Jesus' precious and holy name, with sincere and heartfelt gratitude, joy, and peace. And so it is. And so I allow it to be, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN!