Wednesday, 01 July 2009

• Forgiveness: lyrics + testimony

  A TRUE STORY...

  MERCY TRIUMPHS
  by Michael S Miller, Jr
  (C) February 1, 2003
  Ultimate forgiveness
  based on verse James 2:13b
  
  [verse one]
  Who am I that I should still be loved?
  I've called for God then turned away again.
  And why should I still be called His child
  When all I do is run right back to sin?
  Then I'm reminded
  That mercy triumphs!
  Yeah, mercy triumphs (over judgment)!
  
  [verse two]
  Why does God give so many chances?
  Our tainted lives have got to be too much.
  Then His quiet voice speaks to my heart,
  In such a way I can only feel loved.
  And I'm reminded
  That mercy triumphs!
  God's mercy triumphs (over judgment)!
  
  [bridge]
  Praise God! (4x)
  God's mercy, God's mercy(!) TRIUMPHS!!! (over judgment)!
  
  [chorus]
  I've been reminded
  God's mercy triumphs!
  Oh, yes! It triumphs (over judgment)!
  
  [end]
  
  [behind the song]
  Back in late December 2002 or early January 2003, I started dating a girl whom I was only a little interested in (I was actually pursuing her twin sister but that didn't pan out too well). One day we were alone in her and her sister's apartment, snuggling on the couch...and our intimacy began to escalate to way beyond what God would have deemed ok between an unmarried couple. And then, we made a choice which would have a great impact on how I viewed life: we began to have sex. While we didn't finish, the point is that we started at all. (And for the record, I had sex, the fact that I didn't orgasm is a moot point.) For the next three days I was wrapped up in my guilt. I had broken a promise to myself, God, and my future wife. (I even went to the True Love Waits convention, which I took very seriously.) I tried to pass the days as normal, but each of those three days had me writhing in shame and wondering how I was going to deal with it. One afternoon, as I was driving to carry out some errand, I was praying aloud to God, still totally devastated by my choice to do what I did with my girlfriend. I started praying, "God, I know you have forgiven me. My girlfriend and I have already prayed and asked, but I still feel so bad about what I did. Please... God, I need to hear from You. Please tell me so that I know You have heard me and I am forgiven..."
  
  God heard me.
   
  I don't know how many times God has tried to reach me directly. Not just through a sermon that a pastor means to reach as many people with as he can. Not simply through a well written and powerful song. But with something that God specifically tried to talk to me through. Namely, through my heart.
   
  I had KLOVE radio on and while I was praying, the verse of the day was about to be read as was always done throughout the day. I do not exaggerate - the moment I said, "Amen," God brought the DJ on to read the verse...and it went like this:
   
  Mercy triumphs over judgment.
  James 2:13b
   
  God's mercy always wins over judgment, damnation, and criticism. While I would have to live with the consequences of my choices for the rest of my life - no longer can I ever say to my future wife, "I loved you so much that I saved my body and my mind and my heart only for you... even before I knew you" - God showed me that He would not hold this dreadful mistake against me. It's in the past. It might be remembered by a select few (namely me), but to the One who made me to be special, I am not tied down and held prisoner to my mistakes. God has continued to bless me despite how I have messed up. I deserve to not have a woman to love. I didn't wait for her. But God forgave me and then gave me more than what I deserved. His mercy triumphed before anyone's judgment could attack. That's how God does things: His ways are not our own, but they work and they are wonderful, more than anything I have ever known. That is a true example of real love in action.
   
  To you, who reads this song and this story, I pray you know God's love personally. Mainly through Jesus...it's Jesus that makes all the difference. Because God is Jesus. Jesus is God. Jesus the Son received power from God the Father through God the Spirit. They are all one and the same. God, through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, forgave you of your mistakes. Just accept that gift - if you haven't yet done so - and you'll REALLY begin to see (more and more through time) to know God's love. It'll blow your mind something wonderful!
   
  Even if you know Jesus already, I hope you are blessed and find peace in your heart. God didn't just give me the words to this song only for myself. I wrote this song to be shared with those who feel defeated by their mistakes like I felt with mine. There is mercy with God. Always.
  
  :)
  
  With love,
  Michael Samuel Miller, Jr

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