St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.” (Psalm 66 v 2, 3)

Dearest Father, in response to the mercy You offer us, justified by Jesus dying as a sacrifice upon the † to win forgiveness for us, “All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You.” (Psalm 66 v 4)

Or at least they should and would, if open to the gracious teaching of the Spirt of mercy, He who helps us to understand and appreciate all aspects of forgiveness.

Thank You that the Spirit shows us what mercy is, how Jesus wins this for us, the full implications of the †, how to repent remorsefully and with a contrite heart express this prayerfully.

“They shall sing praises to Your name,” (Cont.) as Redeemer Saviour, Restorer to every grace and favour through Jesus, through forgiveness, as empowered by the Holy Spirit of mercy drawing us into the full life of

holiness.

Your eternal goodness is the mercy of forgiveness the Spirit reveals to us at the †of the Lord Jesus, His death being a perfect sacrifice, “...the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5 v 9)

Our faith, Spirit given, Spirit driven, acknowledges the victory the Lord Jesus won for us at the †, as He died to save us from the grasp of sin and all its disastrous fall out.

It has to be a supreme love at work dearest Father, which wins forgiveness for us in the only way possible, a righteous sacrifice, the highest price imaginable. May the Holy Spirit not only convict us of sin, but convince us of the victory the Lord Jesus has won for us at the †of His sacrifice, forgiveness the blessed result.

Assured belief is an issue here. May the Spirit of mercy ever deepen and strengthen our spiritual belief, our acceptance of Jesus as Saviour of the world, redeeming us through His perfect love.

How dependent we are upon mercy, such a generous goodness, real concern, a deep, deep love shown to us by You, as a Trinity of love and mercy, guiding and safeguarding us.

When our self righteousness – that wrong concept to begin with – when this is offended, how often do we remember we are told to forgive?

“Do not hasten in our spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7 v 9)

Forgive us Lord, and grant us wisdom. “For wisdom is a defence.” (v 12)

Do we not see forgiveness is so essential for mankind’s well being, You allowed Your beloved Son to die for us? If wise, we will understand this. May the Spirit ever counsel us.

Counsel us to be honest with ourselves when we have caused an offense. “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1 v 19)

I ask to do better in keeping short accounts with You, turning to You to ask forgiveness immediately after making a mistake. For “Blessed is the (wo)man whose sin You do notcount against him (or her) and in

whose spirit there is no deceit.” (based on Psalm 32 v 2)

May we live by the Spirit of truth helping us to see when we have bent the rules, even if only slightly. For there is no room in heaven for any unholiness.

We must depend upon the mercy of Your forgiveness as won for us by the Lord Jesus, at the † which changed the course of human history, that occasion when we are given opportunity to repent and start again, contrite in heart.

“If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130 v 3 NIV) Not one of us, for all have sinned and fall short of Your glory. How ashamed we should be.

“But with You there is forgiveness therefore You are feared” ( v 4) or should be. I am so sorry for mankind’s sins as they are irreverent, damaging and put our eternal soul in jeopardy.

Mercy is so vital for us, or else we would be a lost cause, if it were not for the Lord Jesus dying, taking on our punishment. What love is this, it is extraordinary!

“All the prophets testify about Christ that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name,” (Acts 10 v 43 NIV) the highest, holiest name.

Thank You for rescuing us from the dominion of satan. “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call on You.” (Psalm 86 v 5)

May the Spirit help us to realise this, so we are never afraid to come before the throne of grace, accompanied by the Lord Jesus, pleading for mercy.

“I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to You LORD – and You forgave the guilt of my sin” (based on Psalm 32 v 5) according to Your law of love, ever merciful!

You forgive us, “On account of Christ’s name,” (1 John 2 v 12 NIV) as Lord, as Word, as Saviour, our Redeemer. So “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10 v 23 NIV)

And let us forgive as we have been forgiven. And in so doing, offer the Trinity all thanks for mercy. “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins... ” (Psalm 103 v 2, 3)

Oh, where would we be without mercy? I dread to think and thank You that I do not have to, for the Spirit of holiness is ever our help and encouragement through our friendship with the Lord Jesus.

Thank You for the awesome deeds in righteousness, by which we are saved from our sinfulness through that merciful forgiveness won for us by Jesus, and made real as it applies to us personally, by the Spirit.

O Lord, “Forgive what I have been, sanctify what I am and order what I shall be”(Traditional prayer) I ask in the name of the Lord Jesus, my Saviour, in whose name lies mercy. Amen.