SOW MERCY, REAP MERCY

LIGHT FOR THE WAY

(Daily Devotional)

Saturday 10th  June 2017

TOPIC: SOW MERCY, REAP MERCY

TEXT:  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7).

We live in a world and time where mistrust and betrayal is rife and if we are not careful we could be held in a trap of un-forgiveness and strive and therefore destroy the root of the good things the Lord is doing in our lives.

Mercy is the opposite of vengeance. Vengeance is to retaliate against someone so that person will experience the same hurt you did when they hurt you. It looks for ways to get even. Sometimes it’s as simple as returning a hurtful word just to get a sense of satisfaction. Based on nothing more than a personal grudge, vengeance wants to settle the score somehow. Mercy, on the other hand, does just the opposite and chooses not to retaliate. When verbally attacked, mercy responds kindly or not at all. When given the power to inflict a wound, mercy lays its weapons down. Of course, being merciful doesn’t mean not setting boundaries with those whose behaviors threaten your well-being. It also isn’t a lack of mercy to set the record straight with the truth, especially when doing so may protect innocent people. Jesus spoke out against the Pharisees, not to retaliate against them for attacking Him personally, but to protect innocent people from being deceived by them. At the same time, Jesus demonstrated incredible mercy to the very same Pharisees by verbally saying, “Father forgive them,” while they were demanding His crucifixion. He also extended mercy in Luke 5:17 when He made healing power specifically available to them.

Like Jesus, show mercy to those who hurt you and know that one day you may need a harvest of mercy to be available for you.

WORD CONFESSION

I am an evidence that Jesus Christ is alive and at work. Today I connect my heart to the flow of God’s mercy. I reject unforgiveness, I let God’s mercy flow in me and through me in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINTS

*Father thank you for bringing me and my family into this new day in Jesus name

*Lord let your mercy begin to flow in my life and family in Jesus name

*Lord God, break the hold of the spirit of malice and un-forgiveness in me in Jesus name

*Lord God, break the hold of the spirit of jealousy and envy in my life in Jesus name

*Lord Jesus, teach me to love like you and live like you

*Lord God , make me and instrument of your mercy and peace in Jesus name

*Thank you Lord for hearing and answering my prayers in Jesus name

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Joshua 11, Joshua 12 Luke 24:1-35 Psalm 51:10-19

SUCCESS QUOTE FOR TODAY

"Justice is for those who deserve it; mercy is for those who don't."

- Woodrow Kroll

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS FOR TODAY

 The Sovereign Lord says today “Begin to plant seeds of mercy. Refuse vengeance and the temptation to settle the score with those who have hurt you, and know that a future harvest of mercy shall be available for you on the day when you need it most.”