How marvelous and unfathomable it is that a wretch like me can be the object of divine love. I will never fully understand it, Lord. Human love is so fallible and transient. How could I fully embrace the honor of Your love bestowed? Let me not think that it is my behavior that warrants such holy affection. Do You love me more when my spirit is buoyant and my countenance lively? When my hopes are bright and my faith never wavers, do I experience an uptick in Your blessings? Surely not! You do not love Your servants for their heavenly mindedness. Contrarily, would I as soon lose Your affection should I fall into a pit of despair? If my soul wallows in dust or I dance too long with fear, am I no longer acceptable to You? Praise Your Name that such fickle requiems are not Your way. Joy does not exalt me in Your sight. Despondency does not make me invisible to Your heart. How much I rejoice to know the steadfastness of Your love, Lord. It is perfect and holy. Where I see nothing acceptable, You see the accepted in Christ. Truly, my faults and foibles, my sin and failure, is behind Your back even when present in my eyes. Let me live in the full assurance of my glorious standing with You. Under the beauty of the Word in Psalm 42:5 and the authority of Christ, I pray.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise Him,
    my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5, NIV