“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
The greatest love of all is that of God for the people of this world. He gave His only-begotten Son to die on the cross and atone for our sins so that we might not be condemned and perish in His judgment upon this world but have never-ending life in fellowship and communion with God, our Creator and Redeemer, through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ our Savior!
Grant that I know You and Your love for me in the gift of Your Son and trust in Him for pardon, forgiveness, and life eternal in communion with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
Are you ready to pray this prayer — to ask God, who knows and sees all, to search and test your heart and reveal any wicked way in you? Are you ready for Him to lead you in the way everlasting by moving you to repent of your sins and look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness? Are you ready to seek the guidance and direction of God’s Word in your life?
Lead me, O God, to see and repent of my sins and trust in Christ’s holy life and innocent sufferings and death for pardon and forgiveness. “Lead me in the way everlasting.” Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.” Micah 7:18-20
What a God we have! He pardons our iniquities and sins. Instead of holding them against us forever, He delights to show us His mercy. As He promised Abraham and Jacob, He sent His own dear Son to atone for our sins by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross so that He might have compassion on us and cast our sins into the depths of the sea, never again to be remembered and held against us.
Thank You, O gracious and merciful God, for subduing our iniquities in the shed blood of Jesus and casting them into the depths of the sea that You might pardon and forgive us and accept us as Your own dear children through faith in Christ Jesus. In His name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:16-19
It is a vain thing to place one’s trust in earthly weapons and might because it is the LORD God who protects and delivers those who honor Him and place their trust in His mercy. The LORD is the one who delivers those who trust in Him. He keeps them alive in times of trouble and famine.
O gracious and merciful God, have mercy upon me and forgive my sins for the sake of the shed blood of Thy dear Son. Be Thou my protector and defender in times of trouble. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” Psalm 44:22
Christians sometimes suffer for their own sins to move them back to repentance and faith. But even when they are faithful to Christ and His Word, they are opposed and persecuted in this world. They suffer, they are killed, and they “are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” Why? Because the people of this world hate them for their witness to the teaching of the Bible — for their warnings of God’s judgment and their calling upon all to repent of their evil ways and look to Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness.
O God, grant that I do not suffer because of my own sinfulness but that I faithfully follow You and Your Word and endure the persecution of this world in the hope of the everlasting joys of heaven which were purchased for me with Christ’s blood, shed on the cross for the sins of the world. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
