“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.”
Psalm 86:5-6 ESV
Grace Perspective:
David wrote several prayerful Psalms where he praised God for His goodness, patience, and grace and also pled for God to hear him. David knows first hand that he can come to God at any time seeking forgiveness and that God, who abounds in patient love and mercy, will hear the prayer that comes from a repentant heart.
The LORD has an ear that is tuned to those who call on Him in prayer. He is always available to listen to our pleas for grace. The LORD is not stingy with His mercy. When we come to Him in gracious prayer, His steadfast love and mercy assures us that He will meet our needs, whatever they are.
A Touch of Grace:
How can you praise God today?
What is your plea for grace today?
Grace Application:
How deep is an ocean? Can we measure how much water is in it? Silly questions, but if we tried to count the drops of water in an ocean, we wouldn’t get far. God’s grace is deeper than all the water contained in all the oceans. The Lord’s goodness and steadfast love are beyond measure.
God is always ready to forgive…anything. His goodness is beyond what we can imagine. He is always willing to give mercy to anyone who comes in humble repentance. We don’t have to beg, plead, or make hollow promises to receive forgiveness because His patient love is given to anyone who calls out to Him. He wants us to seek Him and bring all our troubles, needs, joys, sorrows, praises, all that’s in our hearts to Him in prayer.
The hymn writer, William Walford reminds us,
“Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!”[i]
God knows every need we have, even before we know it. There is nothing we can’t bring before Him in prayer, and we can trust that the LORD hears every plea for grace we present to Him. We can lift our hearts to Him in prayer and trust His grace.
Prayer
Gracious Father, You are good and forgiving. You abound in steadfast love that is deeper than anything I can imagine. Thank You for listening to my prayers. Today I plead for Your grace in (____________________). Increase my joy in You as I trust Your answer to my gracious prayer. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubt is erased. Today is a good day to be assured of Salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, please contact me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**
[i] https://gccsatx.com/hymns/sweet-hour-of-prayer/