Re-Center Around God
This week we zero in on having hearts of mercy. The hope is that we display hearts like our Heavenly Father who is willing to be merciful to those who don't deserve it. In light of this let’s review ourselves, repent if necessary, and return to God and his ways:
Review
Seek the Lord's face and ask whether you have withheld mercy from certain people in your life. Walk through current and past relationships with co-workers, family, neighbors, church members and the like. Make a list:
Those I’ve shown mercy Those I’ve withheld mercy from
Repent if Necessary
Do I need to repent in this area? If you’ve been withholding mercy, ask for forgiveness and then ask for the Lord to change your heart. Ask the Lord to remind you of the depths of His mercy toward you.
Return (as necessary)
Ask for the Lord to draw close to Him, having His heart effect your heart so that you might truly become gracious and merciful as your Father in Heaven is gracious and merciful.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 51:3-6
- For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me. - Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge. - Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me. - Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Romans 7:18
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
The Promise
Genesis 8:21
Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.
Pondering Point
In God’s word, there is no escaping that your human nature is sinful. But there is a way to escape that sinful human nature’s control. Let the Holy Spirit, who gives birth to the human spirit, direct your life of faith in Jesus the Christ.