Day One

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Father God, You know the desires of my heart. You know my every thought, You hear my every word. You know how stubborn and proud I am. You know my selfishness and thoughtlessness.

You see my sin.

You hate my sin.

Your wrath burns against my wrongdoings.

And yet you love me.

You sent Your Son to die, not only for me, but for countless others who are just like me: wicked.

You saved me. You love me.

How can you stand to see me continually fall back? What pain I must cause you! With my arrogant presumption that I can somehow live without Your Word, without You, I rebel against my God. Why haven't you smote me off the face of this earth?

Justice calls for it, nay, demands it.

My life is forfeit.

Nothing I can do can save me.

But Your infinite, mysterious mercy intercedes on my behalf.

O Lord, how wondrous are your ways! You know my frame; You know I am but dust.

That's no excuse for sin, of course; just a statement of fact.

I am full of sin; brimming over with it, in fact. I sin with every hour of every day. I am dust; my nature is fallen and depraved.

But Mercy intervenes.

By your mercy, my heart can begin to change.

Please open my eyes as I study Your Word, God. Grant me wisdom and understanding.

Amen.
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Genesis chpts. I & II, Psalm I, and Romans I