“Make joyful the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift my soul. For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call on You.” Psalm 86:4-5
When we lift our souls to the Lord, we can rejoice because He is “good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call on” Him. When we humble ourselves, acknowledge our sins and failures, and look to the Lord God in faith for mercy, we can come away with joy, for God our Maker stands ready to forgive our sins and show mercy to us for the sake of Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for the sins of all.
Unto You, O Lord, I lift my soul for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, for the sake of His blood shed on the cross for the sins of the world. Amen.
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Proverbs 10:12
Hatred and a lack of genuine love toward others stir up strife and conflict. Love for others moves us to forgive and overlook their faults and weaknesses and dwell with them in peace. The Scriptures urge believers to “be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).
Forgive my sins and faults, O LORD, and move me to love and forgive others as You have forgiven me for the sake of Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Amen.
“I will hear what God the LORD will say, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.” Psalms 85:8
When God’s people repent of their sinful ways and turn to Him in faith for pardon and forgiveness, He speaks words of peace and forgiveness to them for the sake of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. But God warns us not to turn back to our foolish and sinful ways, which ultimately lead to death and judgment.
Graciously forgive my sins, O God, for the sake of Jesus and His blood, shed for me on the cross. And keep me from folly, from turning back into the foolish and sinful ways leading to eternal death and damnation. Amen.
“As indeed He says in Hosea: ‘I will call those who were not My people, “My people,” and her who was not beloved, “Beloved,”’ and, ‘In the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there they shall be called “sons of the living God.”’” Romans 9:25-26
Paul cites the prophet Hosea (Hosea 1:8ff.), whose son was named Lo-ammi (not my people), to point out that idolatrous Israel was not God’s people. But God also promised through Hosea that He would make people who were not His people be called His people and the children of the living God through faith in the promised Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ.
O LORD God, we were born into this world not your people and in rebellion against You. We thank You for graciously making us Your beloved children by revealing to us Your gift of forgiveness and life through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
“For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36
Those who find the wisdom revealed in God’s Word find life and obtain the favor of the LORD. They see their own sinfulness and guilt before God and look in faith to the perfect righteousness and the innocent sufferings and death of Jesus Christ for pardon and forgiveness, and thus obtain God’s grace and mercy. But those who turn away from this wisdom harm their own souls and choose to continue in the way of death.
Grant that I hear Your Word, O LORD, and be made “wise unto salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15) and obtain life rather than death and damnation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
