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The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all and his compassion is over all that he has made. The Lord upholds all who are falling,and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you,and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways,and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him,to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21)
Mercy is a great thing; I believe it is the foundation of fresh starts. For many ready to quit and give up, they may just need to hear that whatever has driven them to despair and giving up may have been the absence of hearing "You're okay; we all mess up, and God gives us a new start each and every day." We can be extremely hard on ourselves, but God is gentler with us. Read again: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding (isn't that a great word?!) in steadfast (never-ending) love. And a bit later: The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down." Never quit what you know God has asked of you. A bad day today doesn't mean tomorrow will be bad as well.
We believe in a just and fair God, who is as near as your next prayer; call on Him and He will answer. Seek to do right by God and God will sustain you. Bad choices will have consequences. Praise God even now.
PRAYER: Loving God, for all You provide, I am thankful and blessed. I am thankful that today is a fresh start for me. Forgive my bad choices of yesterday, and let today be a day of praise to You. Show your mercy to me, and let me show my mercy to all who need it. Let me call on You when I need you, but let me praise You when it seems I don't. This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show someone mercy today.
Eradio Valverde
