The words of one of my favorite songs says “Twas the cross meant for me that my Savior carried. Oh I’ve been made free by the mercy of God.”(Mercy-Maverick City Music). I’ve been thinking about how truly amazing the grace of God is. I surely don’t deserve what He’s done for me but He did it anyways…oh the mercy of God.

My life is a testimony of Gods mercy. I am amazed at the many miracles He has performed in my life. More than once in my life my mental state has been very bad. I faced a lot of roller coasters of emotions and I felt I would never be better. But oh, the mercy of God!

The song “Mercy” gets me every time. I feel someone somehow knew my story and wrote this song. It’s amazing how much it fits. Another part of the song says….”I’m living proof of what the mercy of God can do. You took the old and made it new. That’s what the mercy of God can do. Now I’M ALIVE to tell the story how I’ve overcome. It’s His goodness and mercy and the power of the blood.”

I am so thankful God has touched me. But I will also add that I had a tribe of prayer warriors who prayed me back from despair. My Mom is top on that list. She would cry out loud to God in her bedroom for God to heal me. She told God “I need my girl back.” God, I can’t see my girl this way. My girl who wasn’t always this way. God, I need her back.” She prayed her heart out until I was healed and restored. I had some set backs over the years and again…she prayed me back. Surround yourself with people who love you and are strong in the Lord and will pray for you. Don’t be ashamed to tell people your struggles, hurts and pain. People want to be there for you. God wants to be there for you…oh the mercy of God.

God longs to extend His hand out to you. The church is full of people who grabbed on to the mercy of God. He extended His hand and they grabbed it and felt the strong embrace of the power of His hand.

If you think the church is full of perfect people or people who think they are perfect, this is simply not true. I know personally those who were addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography and more. I know people who were headed so down that they could have died at any moment from their lifestyle choices. I know those who were in such a dark place they wanted to give up and end their life. I know those who were living in fear and uncertainty because of the crazy state of this world. But they chose to give their lives to Jesus and reach out to Gods extended hand and were set free and now live victoriously. Satan is deceptive and likes to make people believe that Christians think they are all high and mighty and judgemental. There are those, no doubt. But there are those in any circle of people, friends, co-workers that struggle with these same things. Not all Christians are this way. I’ve met some of the most loving, compassionate people at church. Some of whom have been where I’ve been. And there are those who have been where you have been. We are all a mess in some way! But by Gods grace we are saved and seeing them thrive in the freedom Jesus gives is so inspiring and can give you hope that if God can do it for them, He can do it for you….oh the mercy of God.

So, to any of you out there who feel like you need the mercy of God…simply pray. And pray about trying out a church. You will be surprised at the people who will love you for who you are right where you are at in this very moment and who will extend mercy to you just as Jesus has extended mercy to you. They will be strong when you are not and they will pray for you when you don’t even know it. God will lay you on their heart throughout the week and they will pray for you. There are so many people I know that do this and I know because, I myself have been affected by those prayers in my dark times. I felt a sudden strength and I knew someone was praying. Oh, the mercy of God.

I’ve seen the alcoholic, drug addict, depressed, lonely at the altar crying with people all around them praying. I’ve seen the tears roll and the captive be set free…Oh, the mercy of God

I pray you will receive the mercy of God friend. Not only does His mercy set you free but if you accept Jesus into your heart, you have the promise of eternity with Him in Heaven where there is no more pain, tears, torment, fear, sickness and death. No more covid, no more cancer….just a life lived eternally in Heaven with Jesus and all of the loved ones we have that knew Jesus who have gone before us. A sight we can’t even imagine. Receive the mercy of God today. He longs to extend His mercy, grace and forgiveness to you.

Hebrews 4:16- Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.