Are you struggling to overcome a sin? We all have been there. None of us are perfect.
God knows your desire to walk in freedom in this area and can give you the victory you want. It’s important to remember that you are deeply seen and loved by God in your journey to overcome. You can see this through his mercy towards you.
What is God’s mercy? It’s God’s gift to you, because he loves you more than anything. He forgives you in your iniquities when you come to him in your sorrow. His mercy also means you don’t need to suffer the immense punishment you deserve… but instead God’s son stood in your place on the cross.
What Is Mercy in the Bible?
God is merciful and just. The mercy of God towards you is extensive. It reaches beyond anything you can imagine and truly doesn’t make sense because nobody deserves it.
Sometimes you purposely choose to mess up, but he grants you forgiveness. Why? Because he loves you.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV)
If you meditate and focus on this aspect of God, you will have greater awe and reverence towards him. You will know his love more and it will lead you to a sincere heart of repentance. It will give you the ability to turn from sin and to be free.
Getting free from a repetitive sin can take time, and there may be layers of pain and hurt keeping you in it… but knowing his mercy draws you closer to his love and his heart so you can walk in freedom. It’s such a great gift that you should not forget because it can change your heart deeply towards him.
How Does God Show Us Mercy
God shows you his mercy every day by how he loves you so much even in the midst of your disobedience. The greatest way that he demonstrated his mercy is through Jesus dying on the cross for you.
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—” (Romans 3:25, NIV)
We stand in his righteousness now and are righteous even if we don’t feel it. If you feel guilty or ashamed, remember that he still loves you. His power can break you free from your sin. Knowing the mercy of God can change things for you.
How to Obtain Mercy From God
The mercy of God in the Bible is a free gift from him to you. It is obtained from being in a relationship with him. It is continually offered to you through your repentance.
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, NIV)
You need to go to him, asking him for forgiveness from your sin. This involves a heart of surrenderance and dependence on him, knowing you don’t deserve mercy. But he’ll provide it out of his love for you.
Knowing the importance of mercy allows you to walk in freedom from sin, so you can really turn from it.
What Is God’s Mercy
If you are on your knees, desperately crying out “Jesus have mercy on me,” know first that you are not alone and that you can find freedom from your sin. God hears your cries and is with you in your struggle.
Recalling the mercy of God in the Bible can allow you to walk with joy, praising him and being thankful in remembrance of what he did for you on the cross. You won’t feel defeated anymore, which means you can have the freedom you desire. Here are 7 verses to remind you of the mercy of God.
Titus 3:5
Always remember that you weren’t saved because of anything you could do. It doesn’t matter how many good deeds you perform or what your sins look like. All sin is equal in his eyes and grieves his heart. He hates it all.
“… he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5, NIV)
He saved you because he loves you. Remember this verse when you feel like you can’t stop your sin. Be humble before him.
Lamentations 3:22-23
When you are completely overwhelmed by your sin and on your knees crying out “God have mercy on me,” know his mercies are new every day.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)
Each day is new and an opportunity to find forgiveness from God. You can get the victory; it takes one day at a time. Each day you persevere is a day closer to walking toward complete freedom.
1 Peter 1:3
When you are feeling so defeated and overwhelmed because you keep on engaging in sin, remember that through his mercy you can have hope in Jesus: he will never fail you.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3, NIV)
Hoping in him will give you fresh strength and the ability to fight for the victory you have through Christ.
Hebrews 4:16
In the battle to overcome your sin, remember to be confident in God so that you experience his mercy.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV)
You have his mercy and you shouldn’t doubt it. You can experience it daily.
1 Timothy 1:16
God is very patient with you even when you are not patient with yourself. Knowing this allows you to give thanks to him for his great mercy when you are trying so hard but keep failing in your battle to overcome sin.
“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16, NIV)
You will overcome it with Christ. It will happen. Remember his great patience in his mercy for you.
Deuteronomy 4:31
God is committed to you. He will not give up on you or leave you, even when you feel like you have given up. His mercy shows you this.
“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” (Deuteronomy 4:31, NIV)
Don’t give up on him to bring you into victory from this sin. He is the answer. Keep pressing into him.
Isaiah 30:18
God has freedom for you. He is so good. He wants to show you this through his grace and the extension of his mercy.
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:18, ESV)
Knowing that he is good and has good for you will allow you to keep fighting for freedom. Don’t give up before you receive the victory. It might be right around the corner.
If you are struggling to overcome a sin and crying out “God have mercy,” know he is merciful. What is God’s mercy? It’s knowing you are forgiven. That he sent his son to take on your sins and your punishment… all because you are loved by him.
I hope these 7 verses help you remember his mercy and focus on overcoming your struggles with sin. He has victory for you.
