What is the ruling on saying the phrase: "Were it not for the mercy of Allah, I would not have prayed"?

The saying: "Were it not for God's mercy, I would not have prayed" is permissible, for a Muslim knows that were it not for God's mercy and divine grace, he would not have performed any act of obedience, in affirmation of His (the Almighty's) saying: "And were it not for the bounty of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have ever been purified, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing."