God's dealings with us

Try as we might, we'll never fully comprehend God's intentions, as least not during this life. To make that clear, God says (Isaiah 55:8-9, KJV),

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways ... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

But despite our inability to grasp God's intentions, I believe we can comprehend his dealings toward us. I believe Psalm 106 makes this clear in three (nonconsecutive) verses. First, in verse 6 (KJV),

We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

That verse describes our hopeless, fallen state. But then in verse 8 (KJV),

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

God saved us, not because we deserve saving, but rather to make his compassionate power known to us. How should we react? In verse 12 (KJV),

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

We can't "pay" God for his forgiveness. All we can do is believe and offer our praise.

Those three verses appear to summarize God's dealings with us. Let us use those verses to guide our prayers.