I praise you, Lord God, for the beauty of your Character as shown in Psalm 86:15 “…you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
You lean over the side of Heaven and in compassion follow carefully every aspect of my life, preparing each day in detail, providing protection, chastening, guiding and blessing.
In compassion you take me through difficulties to break, shape and transform me. You are wholehearted and full-orbed in your compassion.
You are gracious: kind and good in your dealings with me. You are richly generous, pouring out upon me blessing after blessing: you have given me health, strength, the ability to see, hear, walk and talk; you have given me a fine family, good friends, meaningful work, constant protection and many belongings. And even if I had none of these, I have you! I lack nothing because you are my Shepherd.
You are slow to anger. You are deeply, graciously, perfectly patient and therefore persistent in our relationship. I so often fail, especially in my thought life and in my motives, and in each sin I grieve you, giving you pain. Yet you do not respond in anger, but instead kindly correct me over and over.
You start with very small alerts and if I don’t respond, slowly work your way up to larger rebukes, patiently giving me chance after chance to see, confess and repent of one sin after another. I praise you for your great, rich, comforting, healing patience.
Thank you for your consistent, wise and continuous work in my life. Help me to join you in this work so you may be honored.
