His mercy is a boundless, fathomless, endless ocean!
(James Smith, "The Evening Sacrifice; Or, A Help to Devotion" 1859)
"You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive - and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You." Psalm 86:5
What a beautiful representation of God is this! How comforting, at the close of another day's cares and troubles, sorrows and sins - to be reminded that our "God is good," and especially that He is "ready to forgive" - ready to pardon all the faults and follies of this day - ready to pass them by, and still treat me as His beloved child!
He only requires me to confess and be sorry for my sins - and in a moment, all is forgiven, all is forgotten, and forgotten forever!
Then He is "abundant in mercy." The fountain of His mercy has not yet run dry. Run dry! It is not in the least diminished! His mercy is a boundless, fathomless, endless ocean!
God has plenty of mercy for miserable sinners . . .
mercy to pardon them,
mercy to purify them,
mercy to comfort them,
mercy to save them -
mercy for all who call upon Him!
O my soul, take home tonight this lovely representation of your God, and believing that He is good, ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy - go to Him, call upon Him, and plead with Him. Then you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help you in every time of need.
Good and gracious God, I adore You for Your goodness; I bless You that You are ready to forgive; I rejoice that You are abundant in mercy. And now, O Lord, glorify Your mercy in me - show Your readiness to forgive, in me! Let my heart be eased of every sorrow - and let my conscience be cleansed from every sin! Let me lie down to rest tonight guiltless - rejoicing in the glorious fact that You have blotted out my sins as a cloud, and my transgressions as a thick cloud, and are now at eternal peace with me!