All Merciful God, Your story of Jonah confirms to me that, even if I run away from Your call to service, You will give me another chance. Even when I feel I have disqualified myself through some past mistake, You are always open to my repentance and my return to Your service. I realize that serving You is not an earned position, but one where You invite me to participate and, through my free-will, I can choose to respond. You have called me to a mission of serving others and it is NOT my place to judge them. Only You can determine if someone is truly sorrowful and deserving of Your forgiveness and mercy. It is encouraging to know that You are moved by my repentance because it opens the door to forgiveness … renews my energy in responding to You … and restores our connection to each other. I am blessed to know Your Word confirms that Your mercy endures forever.
In repentance, what I am seeking is not only forgiveness for my sins, but a change in my heart that makes me never have any part with sin again. I want to see sin as repulsive as You see it. I no longer want to partner with sin and, instead, join with You and become a benefactor of Your forgiveness and mercy. I want to open myself to Your teachings, guidance, and leading. To be taught, I must listen and contemplate every word. To be guided, I must be willing and looking for a positive way forward. To be led, I must take Your hand and walk alongside You to the place where You want me to go. To become a true, willing follower of Yours, I must be repentant of past mistakes … humbly acknowledge I am nothing without You … and willingly submit to Your ways. I am blessed to know Your Word confirms that Your mercy endures forever.
I must remember not to become enamored by the world and its ways. In the world, there are temptations that pull me away from You … false teachings that try to capture my thinking … unfulfilled feelings and longings … and obstacles that block me from seeing You are a loving and merciful God. What I must acknowledge is that “the Kingdom of God” has come down to earth and called me into its service. If I want to be close to You, I must become intimate with Your word. I must understand that the words in the scriptures are You speaking to me. In my heart, if I am truly repentant, I want to turn my back on sin and turn my eyes to You. As a believer, I must be willing to mimic Your ways and serve others as You did. Through Your love and mercy, I know I can be all that You want me to become. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Psalm 103:8 The Lord is merciful, and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.