Merciful God, we adore you this morning, for assuring us, that no matter how angry you are with us, that you will still stretch your hand out to help us. Only you, dear God, could be so loving, for we continually hurt you in thought, word, and deed, we grieve your spirit daily, we fail to give you the honor and glory due your name, yet, in your mercy, you promised, that your hand will never be too short to save us, nor your ears too heavy to hear our cries, that you will not be angry with us forever, that you will remove our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. What could we give you in return for your goodness and mercy toward us? We will enter into your gates with thanksgiving, and into your courts with praise this and every morning. Oh, thank you Lord, that your banner over us is love.

Let us bless the Lord who daily loads us with benefits. Most times when we call on God is at times when we are in trouble, or in need, or sick; we forget God when things are good; yet, in his lovingkindness, and in the multitude of his tender mercies, he hears and answers our prayers. Learn to just thank God not only when things are bad, but especially when things are good, for our God is good, our God is an awesome God.

“But, he was wounded for our transgressions, and he was bruised for our iniquities, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, he bore the sins of many, yes, the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” He could have called ten thousand angels to rescue him, but he bore the affliction for us, so that by his stripes we could be healed.

There is no God like our God, we could trust in him because he will never fail us, he knows what we need and when we need it, and he SATISFIES our desires, but FULFILLS the desire of all those who fear him, he is near to all those who call upon him in truth.

Dear God, thank you for walking with me through all of my valleys and dark hills, thank you for surrounding me like a shield, thank you for courage that I will fear not, and thank you, that you comfort me when I am feeling lost and alone. Thank you Lord, for your goodness and your mercy which endures forever. Amen!

If you have  been weighted down by guilt and self-condemnation, this your day to rise up with healing in your wings, to stand firm with confidence in our God who said, though your sins be like scarlet, I will wash them whiter than snow, and though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool. Challenge those who are quick to judge you to cast the first stone, remind them that your God is a God of second chances, a God who said, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” What an awesome God we serve. Give him the glory, give him all the praise this morning, for the great things he has done and continue to do for us. Praise the Lord!

“I have no help but you oh Lord, only your arm to lean upon, but it is enough, my Lord, enough indeed, for my strength is in thy might thy might alone.”

I have run the race and I am still running, but I will finish this race joyfully with God’s help so that I could enter the kingdom of heaven. If you are at the starting line this morning I want to encourage you to not get weary or discouraged as you will be tempted to along the way, but keep pressing on toward the goal – heaven.

Many of us pray to God for good things to happen in our lives, and we wait expecting them to happen, but as we wait for our prayers to be answered, our situations get worse instead of better, sometimes it becomes so hard that we are tempted to give up; but what we failed to do as we petitioned God, was to ask him to block the messengers of Satan sent to buffet us, lest we receive our blessings. Whatever you ask of God, believe, and never doubt, and you shall have it.

Lord, as we travel along this pilgrim journey, be our guide, our strength, and our shield, and lead us all the journey through, for without you leading and guiding us, or efforts would be fruitless.