Is God on "our side?"

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. Psalm 17:1

During the NCAA basketball tournament, it's amazing how the referees get it right when they penalize the other team and are totally wrong when they penalize my team. I'm sure I see things from a much better perspective than they do.

How often do we think that "our side" has the just argument? I'm so sure that if God would just pay attention to me, he would see that I deserve better than I'm getting. I'm sure that I see things the way they really are. I hate to admit that I might be more likely to see things the way I want them to be or that in my desire to win God's favor I may tell the "truth" I think God wants to hear.

As we near the end of this period of self-examination in preparation for Easter, it is good to remember that God hears our cries, not because we are just or deserving, but because we need his forgiveness and compassion so much.