Holy … and Merciful

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


The second of my three imaginary steps to the throne of grace: repentance.

Luke 18:13 (ESV)
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!


We recognize our sin and look to Holy God for salvation and forgiveness.

As the old hymn says, “Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!” We repent and He is merciful.

 


Good morning, Lord. In Your great mercy, You don’t give me the punishment I deserve — thank You! I stand before the throne of grace, not because I am good, but because You are merciful. As Elvina Hall wrote so many years ago, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” Yes indeed, Lord, I owe it all to You.

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Praise Thy Name

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Continuing to focus on God’s holiness as described in Reginald Heber’s hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy: “All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea.”

In my imagination, there are three steps to the throne of God. The first step is praise.

Psalm 148:13 (NLT)
Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

 

Good morning, Lord. I want my life to bring honor to Your holy name. Forgive me for the many moments when my words and deeds have dishonored You. Teach me to start and end every day with praise. Fill me with awe and gratitude. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14) and praise Your name. 

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Holy, Holy, Holy

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name,
in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.”
Reginald Heber, 1826

 

Lent is the perfect time to ponder the holiness of God. The words of this familiar hymn are a good place to start.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are all loving and all holy. Sometimes I focus so much on Your love that I overlook Your holiness — forgive me. There You are on the high throne of heaven, surrounded by armies of angels, with the earth as Your footstool and light as Your robe. Here I am, speaking to the One who spoke the universe into being. How is it even possible? I stand amazed in Your holy presence.

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God Sees Me

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lent is a good time for private, secret prayer. Fear not, God sees and hears.

 


Matthew 6:6 (AMP)
But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

 

Good morning, Lord. Here I am, in my secret prayer closet. Here You are, seeing and hearing. I am not alone, I am in the presence of the Creator of the universe! What can I say?

Have mercy on me, a sinner. I love You, I praise You. Your will be done — in my life, in the world.

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God Who Sees

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 16:13 (NLT)
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

Hagar thought she was running away. Instead, she ran to God.

This Lenten season, make an effort to run to God. He sees you coming.

 


Good morning, God-Who-Sees. When I’m scared, I run to You. When I’m lost, I run to You. You see me coming, and You never turn me away. You know the way through, You know the way home — You are the Way! (John 14:6). Thank You for watching and waiting.

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Does God Not See?

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 29:15-16 (NLT)
What sorrow awaits those who try
to hide their plans from the Lord,
who do their evil deeds in the dark!
“The Lord can’t see us,” they say.
“He doesn’t know what’s going on!”
How foolish can you be?

God sees. God knows. There are no secrets. Sooner or later, dark deeds will see the light of day.

 


Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I pretend You’re not watching. Silly me, like a toddler closing her eyes thinking we can’t see her. I forget what I did yesterday, You remember eternally. And yet, You forgive my foolishness and send my sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Gratitude is not enough. I owe You all that I am.

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God Sees

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

God sees all. God sees me.

Psalm 139:3 (NLT)
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.

I’m always amused when someone criticizes politicians for their faith in God. Considering all the corruption in government, I think a leader who believes God is watching their every move is a good thing.

On a personal note, there are moments when I wish He wasn’t watching me. But no, He never takes His eyes off me.

 

Good morning, Lord. You see my every move, know my every thought. It’s both scary and comforting — You see me at my worst and still love me. I want to be good, really I do, but here I am falling short … again. I look to the cross with gratitude and awe. “Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? “ (Charles Wesley, 1738)

 

 

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Seeing God during Lent

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lent is the perfect time to put in the extra effort — look for God with all your heart.

 


Jeremiah 29:13 (MSG)
“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

 

Good morning, Lord. I see You in the light of the sunrise and in the dimness of night. I hear You in the Words of Scripture and in the chatter of friends. I sense Your presence in a crowd and alone in my car. You are consistent, I am flighty. When I think You’re far off, I’m the one who has stepped away. Your eyes never lose sight of me, keep me forever focused on You.

 

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Fasting: More than Food

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Let the hands fast by being pure from plundering and avarice. Let the feet fast by ceasing from running to unlawful spectacles. Let the eyes fast, being taught never to fix themselves rudely on handsome faces, or to busy themselves with strange beauties . . . Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speech.”
 St. John Chrysostom (349-407)

 


Good morning, Lord. May the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14). Let me fix my eyes on You and Your Word. May the work of my hands be honest and honorable. Let my feet walk in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake (Psalm 23:3). amen and amen.

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What Are You Losing for Lent?

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lots of folks (including me) give up some kind of food during Lent. You could call it a weight-loss program — you lose the weight of your bad habits and sins.


Joel 2:12 (AMP)
“Even now,” says the Lord,
“Turn and come to Me with all your heart
[in genuine repentance],
With fasting and weeping and mourning
[until every barrier is removed
and the broken fellowship is restored].”

The Amplified version of the Bible adds words to clarify the meaning of a passage. Here, it connects fasting with repentance. The loss: the weight of my sin. The gain: fellowship with God.

 


Good morning, Lord. I pray, “forgive me,” and You do. And then I sin again, and You forgive again. I’m so sorry. Break the cycle, Lord! Teach me to think the way You do, to use my time well, to speak the truth in love, and to walk in obedience to Your commands — today and every day.

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