Father,
Your mercies are new every morning.
Summer and winter, spring and autumn, season after season You renew Your mercy and compassion in my life. As the seasons change, so I change. But You never change. You are merciful to me, even when I am wrong. Like the father of the prodigal son, You run to meet me. You are great in mercy, Lord, but I am not. Help me to be merciful to myself, forgiving myself so that I do not become weighted down with self-pity. Amen.
(From "Everyday Prayers for Everyday Cares")

8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.
This I know, that* God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
12 My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank-offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Psalm 56 New Revised Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 - Galatians 4:12-20 - Matthew 15:21-28