Grace...

I was reading Psalm 103 the other day. I love this psalm. There is so much inside of each word and each word brings me to my knees.

I have been praying that I would be overwhelmed by God's grace, that each new day I would be overjoyed and overflowing with Him. It's incredible how great God is to me, unworthy and full of wickedness, over and over again. As I read His word, He is so faithful to show me this overwhelming grace and draw me closer to Himself. There is just something about the thought of resting in the big and loving arms of God that makes everything okay.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:2-5

He forgives ALL of my sin and heals ALL of my disease. Can you believe it? He redeems my life from the pit...and what a pit I was in! Not only this, but He crowns me with love and compassion and also satisfies me with good things. Praise Him! Words like this penetrate my heart in ways that words could not explain. I am humbled by the fact that I am so sought after, satisfied and needy of the Creator of the world. O my soul. I sit here, shaking my head, still stunned by these words. He is holy.

"He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor his anger forever;He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:9-12

My God, the God of the universe, does not, will not, no not ever treat me as my sins deserve. Have you ever heard of such mercy? Such grace? He does not repay me for my list of iniquities. He does not hold grudges with me. He will never treat me as my sins deserve and wouldn't you know my sins deserve death. I don't think I will ever grasp the depth of what this truly means. I am saved by grace from the eternal punishment of sin. This grace has taken my sins and washed them away. This grace sends me to an eternal place of worship, of holiness. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound".

God's love for me extends as high as the heavens are above the earth. What a sight to see in my finite mind. Beyond what I can see, beyond what is visible to my eyes, beyond what is visible through a telescope or through the window of a shuttle orbiting space. His love reaches beyond the universe that we know. Oh, can you believe this love? So freeing, so consuming, so undeserved.

In His grace, His mercy, His love my sins are forgotten. And not just tossed out the door. "As far as the east is from the west," my sins are forgotten. The east will NEVER meet the west! I cannot fathom this forgetfulness. My sins will never, ever be remembered by my God. He has removed my sins in such a way that He will never see me and my sin together. "As far as the east is from the west," I am removed from my sins in the eyes of God. How can I not be overwhelmed by this grace? How can I not stand in awe of this God, my God? You humble me, Lord.

"For He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:14

Dust. I am dust. I was formed from dust and although I forget this and think I am made from crystal sometimes, I am not. He remembers that I am not perfect, unholy, sinful, needy, poor and wanting. He is not. God was, is and always will be holy, righteous, pure. He may not remember my sins, but He does remember that I am but dust. He remembers that without Him, I am nothing. I humbly remember that too. I need you, Lord.

This could make for an awkward story, but no...this is a love story like no one has ever known. My sins are gone. His love is steadfast, unfailing, eternal. I do not deserve this kind of love and grace. I stand in awe of you, LORD. Amen and Amen.