"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever"....."When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up." (Psalm 23:6 and 94:18)

Mercy follows us all of our days.

God's Mercy is greater than our worst sins. The Psalmist paints such a beautiful picture of Mercy in its application to our lives.

God's Mercy is manifest in the life of David. Even though he was a "man after God's own heart," David knew the extent of God's Mercy; it had everything to do with God and nothing to do with him.

Today's verses also paint a picture of God's character, of His total provision for us in our less-than-perfect state.

Psalm 23 shows us that Mercy follows us all the days of our lives. As we journey through this life, we all have a tendency to slip, to mess up, to fall short. But as Psalm 94:18 points out, when we fall, His Mercy is there –it follows us and holds us up.

When I was a child, my Dad loved to take me ice skating. The field behind the house would flood and freeze over, making the perfect place for skating. I can remember when I first learned to skate; he would be right behind me, so close that if I began to fall, he'd reach out and hold me up helping me I had my balance once again.

The Mercy of God is much the same. He's never far from us. And, when we lose our balance and begin to fall, He reaches out and holds us up, helping us to once again get steadied on solid ground.

No matter what the circumstances, no matter what the cause, if we are pursuing God's will for our lives, His Mercy will follow us all the days of our lives so when we do slip, His Mercy will hold us up.

Are you wobbly? Are you unsteady on your faith-feet? Remember, Mercy is following close behind and will hold you up … God's Mercy will never let you fall!

Father, Your Mercy is unsearchable, yet such a treasured gift. There are so many times I fall short of your glory, so many times my foot slips on my path toward You. Yet, Your Mercy is there to hold me up and set me back on my journey. Thank you for showing me Mercy when I deserve it the least, and thank You for reminding me that Mercy has everything to do with You, nothing whatsoever to do with me, what I do, where I go, or who I am, for I am nothing—absolutely nothing without Your Mercy, amen!

"For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me." (Psalm 108:4-6)

© Jan Ross
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