Pray for God's Mercy on America!

"Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."  (Psalm 36:5)

God’s mercy is free. To set up merit is to destroy mercy. Nothing can deserve mercy, because we are polluted in our blood; nor force it. We may force God to punish us, but not to love us. ‘I will love them freely.’ Hos 14:4. Every link in the chain of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace. Election is free. ‘He has chosen us in him, according to the good pleasure of his will.’  Eph 1:1. Justification is free.  ‘Being justified freely by his grace.’ Rom 3:34. Salvation is free.  ‘According to his mercy he saved us.’  Titus 3:3. Say not then, I am unworthy; for mercy is free.  If God should show mercy to such only as are worthy, he would show none at all.

God’s mercy is an overflowing mercy; it is infinite.  ‘Plenteous in mercy.’  Ps. 86:6. ‘Rich in mercy.’ Eph 2:2. ‘Multitude of mercies.’  Ps. 51:1: The vial of wrath drops, but the fountain of mercy runs.  The sun is not so full of light as God is of mercy.  God has morning mercies.  ‘His mercies are new every morning.’ Lam 3:23.  He has night mercies.  ‘In the night his song shall be with me.’  Ps. 13:3. God has mercies under heaven, which we taste; and in heaven, which we hope for.

God’s mercy is eternal.  ‘The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.’  Ps. 103:37. ‘His mercy endureth for ever,’ is repeated twenty-six times in one psalm, Ps. 136.  The souls of the blessed shall be ever bathing themselves in this sweet and pleasant ocean of God’s mercy.  God’s anger to his children lasts but a while, ‘but his mercy lasts for ever.’ Ps. 103:3.  As long as he is God he will be showing mercy. As his mercy is overflowing, so it is everflowing.  Use one: We are to look upon God in prayer, not in his judgement robes, but clothed with a rainbow full of mercy and clemency.  Add wings to prayer.  When Jesus Christ ascended up to heaven, that which made him go up thither with joy was, ‘I go to my Father;’ so that which should make our hearts ascend with joy in prayer, is, ‘We are going to the Father of mercy, who sits upon the throne of grace.’  Go with confidence in this mercy; as when one goes to a fire, not doubtingly, saying, perhaps it will warm me, perhaps not.
Believe in his mercy.  ‘I will trust in the mercy of God for ever.’ Ps. 52:2.  God’s mercy is a fountain opened.  Let down the bucket of faith and you may drink of this fountain of salvation.  What greater encouragement to believe than God’s mercy?  God counts it his glory to be scattering pardons; he is desirous that sinners should touch the golden sceptre of his mercy and live.

Taken and adapted from, “A Body of Practical Divinity, Volume 1: The Mercy of God (sermon)” by Thomas Watson, pp. 101-107, London, 1869.
http://deadpuritansociety.org/thomas-watson-on-gods-mercy/

Pray for God’s Mercy upon Our Land – Holy Father, I humbly plead for Your undeserved mercy upon my life, my church, my nation and world. Lord, help us come before You with deep awareness we deserve Your judgment far more than Your blessing. By Jesus’ blood alone, we plead for Your merciful grace to revive and bless us once again. (Psalm 85:4-7; Lamentation 3:22; Daniel 9:18-19)

Psalm 85:4-7 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.

Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Daniel 9:18-19 "O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."