Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. Psalm 118:1-7 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, owning the predictability of daily stresses, the insanity of global politics, and the complexities of human relationships, we join King David in shouting, “Your love endures forever!”
The most certain, exquisite, and inexhaustible reality in our lives is your love, Father. We could never deserve or earn it, and now we can never lose or reduce it. You love each of your children as much as you love your only Son, Jesus, for you have hidden our lives in Christ. He is our righteousness, holiness, and hope.
The quantity of your love is like standing under the Niagara Falls of your affection, flowing from the bottomless ocean of your grace. The reliability of your love is a gazillion more times certain than death and taxes. The quality of your love for us is the same affection, passion, and delight you’ve enjoyed forever with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And the endure-ability of your love—you’ll cease being God before you’ll stop loving your children.
You give and you take away, Father; you fill our lives with good things, and you grace our lives with difficult things. You are nearer than our next breath, yet sometimes you seem very far away. We can always count on you, but we can never manage you. But in all of it—in every last bit of the raptures and ruptures, ups and downs, windfalls and potholes of life, “Your love endures forever!” Hallelujah! So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ strong and loving name.
