Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and love [mercy] will follow me all the days of my life,”
[What a beautiful promise. Lord Jesus, my Great and Faithful Shepherd. Your goodness, love and mercy will be with me all the time, without fail, although I will often not see them in the midst of a difficulty because they follow me. I can’t see them yet, but I can know that they are there, supporting, protecting and finishing your work.
Therefore I can trust you that in any circumstance which is allowed through your love and goodness. I think of what you did in one situation as we faced uncertainty and the threat of loss. In your mercy we did lose, but know that you had a higher, greater purpose. In your goodness we won by losing.
Praise you for what you did in our friends’ situation where they were assigned to a dangerous, difficult and down trodden place. Looking back now, we can see your goodness and mercy and love at work in their lives, bringing deepening, protection, provision and faith.
To you be glory, Lord, to you be honor, for your goodness and mercy are at work amongst us even though we can not see them. I give you praise now for the outcomes you will bring today.
You are truly the God of goodness! I praise you, Lord, you for the stability this brings into my life: stability flowing from your consistent and warm love. I praise you that I am always with you because you promised to never leave or forsake me. No matter what I do, you are always there, like the father of the prodigal son, ever waiting with open arms, gracious thoughts and forgiving heart.
In you I am safe, stable, on sure ground, even though I may not see your goodness or mercy at the moment. In you alone I can find rest, protection, acceptance, approval, affirmation, worth and significance. In you there is shelter, a shadow for protection from the heat of the day and a sovereign grace to erase all my guilt.
I praise you, Lord God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit—for your wondrous, gracious and rich love: undeserved, unending, unquenchable and ever unfolding.
Your thoughts are higher than ours and if we don’t seek your input, we will certainly not follow your greater ways. Help me to be consistent in seeking your higher thoughts and ways. Help me, Lord, to partner with you each day, each moment, to be open to your direction, to come to you very frequently to ask for your perspective on the situation. Thank you for your goodness, mercy and love.
