Your Undeserved Favor

The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He will not constantly accuse us,
    nor remain angry forever.

He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.

—Psalm 103:8-12 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your undeserved favor—the compassion, mercy, patience, forgiveness and love that You demonstrate toward me every day.

Though it seems I manage to disappoint You in some way every day, You are slow to get angry with me.  

You don’t constantly chide me about what I’ve done wrong or hold a grudge against me—but rather out of that compassion, mercy, patience and love, You give me the opportunity to recognize my sins and turn my back on them in order that I might return to You.

Though there are consequences that inevitably follow after my sin and disobedience to You, You do not punish me for all my sin, nor do You punish me as harshly as I deserve.

Because I am among those who reverently fear You, Your unfailing love for me is as great as the immeasurable distance of the heavens above the earth.

When I examine myself, the enemy inevitably reminds me of my sinful past and I am ashamed and filled with guilt. 

But You want me to see myself as You see me and not let my past keep me from what You have planned for me today or in the future with You. 

When You look at me You see no sin at all!  For by the sacrifice of Your Son, You have removed from me all of my sin—past, present and future—as far as the east is from the west, so that I and my sin need never meet again.

Thank You for Your undeserved favor—the compassion, mercy, patience, forgiveness and love that You demonstrate toward me every day.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.