River of Grace and Mercy
I came across the following prayer which I have been using in my morning devotions this week. “O God, My Father, whose grace and mercy flow like an endless river from your great being, help me now to place myself in the path of your rushing love and limitless compassion, that I may find my spirit renewed. Amen”
I love that prayer! and have found it very rich in my prayer life this week. So often we “place” ourselves in the path of rushing busyness and limitless work , so that we find our spirits shrinking. Under the weight of a weird combination of self-importance, guilt, hyperactive good works, and failure we collapse in frustration. God says, “you are under grace.” (Romans 6:14). Why can’t we live that way? If Abraham was saved by faith through God’s gracious call, why do we focus on his works? If the Law did not save Israel, why do we think it will save us? The law and grace; good works and rest; failure and forgiveness; duty and gratitude … how does all this go together?