Good morning Heavenly Father. I welcome a new day with you. Thank you for letting me start each day anew, fresh, and not from where I left off the prior night. Thank you for the truths that you have taught me. Please help me to remember them. And thank you for the scriptures for today’s prayer for your daughter Lindsey:

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:12-13)

Jesus was referring to what was said in Hosea:

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

Lord, I’m here again. I’m here to sit with you. And right now I would like to lift up Lindsey to you. She is your daughter you love and delight in. Lindsey, today’s scriptures are interesting in what they are NOT asking of us. Jesus quoted from Hosea to make a point to the Pharisees who had just been mumbling to themselves about how Jesus was sitting and eating with tax collectors! Jesus knew they remembered to offer sacrifices to God, and that was good. However, Jesus reminded them that God was asking more than just sacrifices. God was asking them to show mercy to sinners. And so I pray for us both today. I pray that we would not discontinue making sacrifices for our God, but that we would remember that showing mercy to others is something God desires from us as well. Lord, help us in this. Help us to be kind and merciful to those around us, even when we might think they don’t deserve it. Help us to learn what this means! We need you Lord. Please expand our knowledge of you and your ways. And we will give you the glory. The glory is all yours. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen (more…)