"As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear Him."
Psalms 103:13 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: Our friends from Oxford Languages defines compassion as "sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others." Sympathetic? That would imply that sympathy is an understanding between people based on a shared experience. Does that mean the psalmist is saying that just as those in a parent/guardian type role (not just parents, but anyone who a child would look up to) are a little ahead on their journey through life, we can better relate and have compassion for the young ones that we have influence over? I mean, that makes sense. But then the psalmist adds our heavenly Father to the mix. Does that mean God has been through the struggles and storms that we face on our journey through this thing called life? You better believe it. That is one interesting thing about the Father (God) and Son (Jesus) being the same yet also separate. When we read the cries from Jesus toward his Father while hanging on the cross in Matthew 27, was God looking away from the pain His Son was going through? He is the ultimate Father. So, everything we face, He is always with us and so He faces the same situations. Jesus’ heart literally bled for our redemption and reconciliation with our Creator. God can truly understand the pains we face, no matter how deep and dark the hurt and the wounds are. In fact, He longs for us to turn to Him in all situations, both good and bad. I can hardly believe that God is sitting on His throne, just waiting for us to make a mistake so He can jot it down and hold our salvation at ransom until we right the wrongs. That would be a sick and twisted father. No, I truly believe that when He says that He is always with us, it isn’t to point out the wrongs, but to guide us toward righteousness (right living), if we would only trust Him and surrender our lives to Him.
Prayer for today: Father, I want to thank You for ALWAYS being near Your children, even when we are convinced You are not there. I thank You for NEVER giving up on us, but holding out hope instead that we would just love You and live our lives for Your purpose. I pray for those that are hurting. For those who feel they are too weak to keep moving forward. Would You give them the strength they need to surrender to You? Would you show them that Your grace You is in such great abundance so they can receive the grace they need to forgive themselves and others that have hurt them? Would You show us how to love You and how to surrender to You? We need You, God, more than ever. I love You, Papa. Amen.
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God’s grace on you…
Prodigal Thinker 