Psalm 116:1-9
I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
5
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6
The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7
Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
If you have faith in God, you know that He exists and that He is the source of every blessing. For this reason, the question, “Why do you love God” can be hard to answer. There are too many valid answers. But, Psalm 116 gives us some direction. The Psalmist writes,
“I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.”
From our perspective as sinners in a sinful world, this is a profound demonstration of the grace of God. One of the first things to break down when there is conflict between people is communication. But, God shows His true nature in that He invites sinners to talk to Him in prayer. He hears our repentant prayers and grants us absolution.
As our Savior Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, He endured the faithless mocking of some. Yet, Jesus still listened to the thief crucified next to Him, and granted that thief the promise of eternal life. This is the same Savior who listens to your confession as you pray, forgives your sins, and grants you the eternal life.
Let us pray,
I love you Lord Jesus for graciously hearing my prayers. Grant me the forgiveness of all my sins, strengthen me in holy living, and enable me to love others as you have loved me. In your name I pray, Amen.
The Collect for Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue and preserve Your Church is safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.