Lamentations 3:22

‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.’

DAILY READING –  –  Mark 7:14-37; 2 Samuel 18; Daniel 11:21-45

Imagine waking up in the night and finding out that your one year old baby, who was sleeping beside you was gone. The baby had wondered out of the house through an open back door, into a cold winter night, wearing only diapers.

This was the story of Leyla Nordby, which made News headlines, on February 24, 2001 in Canada. Her one-year old daughter, Erika wandered out of the house and spent the night in the cold.

By the time Leyla found her, some distance away from the house, Erika, was face down in the snow, stiff with cold, not breathing at all. An ambulance was called. A medical emergency team arrived, and tried to insert an IV needle into Erika’s arm, but couldn’t. Her veins were frozen solid. There was virtually no hope for Erika’s survival.

They were rushed to the hospital. And after a long wait a doctor said to Leyla “Your daughter’s body temperature dropped more than thirty degrees, her heart stopped for at least two hours. Her condition is dire.”

Leyla knew she could not do this alone. And there was no one that could help her now, except God. But Leyla was running from God. After losing a baby at birth 7 years ago, she had become bitter, turned her back on God and stopped praying. But now she knew God was the only hope she had.  She went to the hospital chapel, and prayed to God.

‘Lord, I can’t bear another child’s death. I’m just not strong enough. I need your strength. Erika needs it. Help us.’

As she prayed a powerful conviction took hold of her, that everything would be okay. The fear that had gripped her heart like a fist, suddenly loosened.

And from that moment things began to change positively, her child’s condition began to improve.  Each piece of good news seemed like a reminder from God: Everything’s going to be okay.

Erika’s temperature returned to normal. Her heart rate grew steady. Erika stayed another week in the hospital before being released. She was whole and hearty without any organ damage. The doctors said she is one of the greatest medical miracles they had ever seen.  Leyla knew it was so because God had intervened. Her daughter was alive, because God had shown her mercy, much more than she deserved.

Lamentations 3:22  says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.’

Although we have no claim on God’s mercies, and although they are altogether undeserved, nonetheless they never cease.

God is so good.

James 2:13 says ‘Mercy triumphs over judgment.’

For Leyla, having turned her back on God she did not deserve mercy, but yet God’s mercy prevailed over judgment.

There are times God does things for us, that His goodness just leaves us speechless. Especially those times, when you know you didn’t deserve His goodness, you know you didn’t merit it. Yet God shows up. In the moments of despair and desperation, where it seems there is no way out, God shows up with His mercy and grace.

Just like the woman that broke her alabaster box at the feet of Jesus. She knew she didn’t deserve the mercy The Lord had shown her. She would have been death and gone, if The Lord had not shown up to save her when He did.  Those around couldn’t understand her worship. But that was because they didn’t know the depths The Lord, brought her from. And that is our story.

Sometimes people may not understand our praise. They may not understand the depths of our worship. They may not understand why you cry when you lift your hands in worship, and even why you roll on the ground. But then, they were not there in the midnight hour when God delivered you. They were not there when there was no way, yet The Lord came and made a way.

Psalm 145:9 says ‘The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.’

Indeed our God is good. If  it had not been for The Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us…., if it had not been for The Lord who was on our side when we passed through the valley of the shadow of death…., If it had not been for The Lord on our side, where would we be?

Therefore let nothing stop your praise, let nothing hinder your worship. God deserves all the praise and honour, for all the victories He has won for us; in battles seen and battles unseen; For all the deliverance He gave us, from enemies know and unknown. Indeed our God is good. And we will worship Him forever, because this our God is too good.

 

PRAYER: Lord, I know indeed You are good and Your mercies endure  forever. Today let Your mercy speak for me, let Your mercy prevail over judgment in every area of my life, even as I Praise and bless You always in Jesus Name.    

quote

Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- – WORDBITE 222.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK METAMORPHOSIS]