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Mercy is the reason we worship God. It motivates us to walk holy before Him. It gives us confidence that we can come before Him without fear.

Mercy is the reason we worship God. It motivates us to walk holy before Him. It gives us confidence that we can come before Him without fear. We can rest in knowing the mercy of God is greater and stronger than anything else. It has unlimited power and endurance.

Throughout Psalm 136, the psalmist declares the great and mighty acts of God as being a demonstration of His mercy. In each of the 26 verses, the psalmist uses the phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever."

Looking at this psalm, you can see that each work of God is covered by His mercy and His mercy is great, putting into operation wonders, wisdom and His creative power. And not only does it last forever—it is also holy.

Love is the source of mercy and compassion and is the basis of holiness. Every time we remember how holy God is, we are to give thanks and praise because "His mercy endureth forever."

Psalm 30:4-5 illustrates that for us: "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Understand that although God's holiness sets up a standard against sin, it is not intended to prevent us from having a good time. Mercy is the motivating factor behind the standard of holiness. God wants us to experience His joy by living and walking after His example. In His mercy, God tries to keep us from sin which has the power to kill us. We are to rejoice in the protective mercy He has for us and worship Him because His holiness is an expression of His love.

We are instructed in 1 Chronicles 16:29 to "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." As you begin to analyze God's merciful nature, you will begin to understand the way He thinks. New insights into the Word of God are gained where you have not had understanding before.

I let myself be robbed of the first five years of my ministry because I did not understand God's mercy. Don't let that happen to you. Do not allow condemnation to keep you from acting on the mercy of God. Instead, follow what the Word says concerning mercy. Keep in mind that in comparison to His wrath, God's mercy is far greater. Psalm 30:5 assures us that God's anger "endureth but a moment."

God has always loved you. He loved you when you were a sinner and did not know Him. He loves the person who has violated every commandment there is. God's love is constant and He never changes. There's nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less.

He loves you with all that He is—and He is love. Take comfort in the fact your Father is "gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:8-9). Certainly, you may do things that cause Him to have no pleasure in you. We all do. But He still loves us.

So be confident in your Father's love today. Know that you can never change how much He loves you—because everything God does concerning you is based on His mercy.