Daily Affirmations - Day 6 - Always Giving Thanks - Overflowing Benevolence

Day 6: Overflowing benevolence

He does not treat us as our sins deserve

Barnabas and Paul told the crowd: "We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, He let all nations go their own way. Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy” (Acts 14:15-17).

God of providence and provision, You cause Your sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45).

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals (Psalm 36:5-6).

You are good— even in the midst of faithlessness and ingratitude You remain faithful, for You cannot disown Yourself (2 Timothy 2:13). In the worst of human evil, You continue to extend Your hand of mercy and grace. But from the example of Your ancient people, You have shown that Your overflowing benevolence does not mean that You overlook or excuse wickedness in people or in governments and institutions.

You do see the persistent evil of the hard and unrepentant, the oppressors, rebellious and defiled... officials and rulers who are roaring lions... evening wolves who leave nothing for the morning...unprincipled and treacherous prophets... corrupt and dishonorable spiritual leaders who profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law— who assault and disgrace Your commandments and instructions, Your teaching and example (Zephaniah 3:3-4).

Yet the Lord, [in the midst of all this], is righteous; He does no wrong. Morning by morning He dispenses His justice and every new day He does not fail (vs 5). And although You do not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7), You continue Your priceless and unfailing love (Psalm 36:7) even to the ungrateful and the oblivious.

In so doing, gracious God, You leave no shortage of testimony to Your goodness and Your kindness. You extend Your providence as an invitation to humanity to turn from worthless [idols and evil practices, from selfishness, greed, and oppression], to the living God who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them (Acts 14:15, 17).

Lord we pray that Your kindness would draw careless, ungrateful hearts to You. Let it lead to repentance, and to the forgiveness in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) that offers shelter from Your justifiable fierce anger (Zephaniah 3:8).

Teach us to constantly take stock of Your benefits so that we forget them not (Psalm 103:2). Teach us to acknowledge Your goodness— to come to You with humble hearts, and a simple prayer, Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me Your laws (Psalm 119:108).

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