How Does Being Merciful Result in Freedom?

A wonderful hymn proclaims: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There’s a kindness in his justice, Which is more than liberty.” What is the best gift you’ve received that left you feeling happy, or even loved? Perhaps it was an act of mercy.

Maybe in a rare moment of vulnerability you showed mercy to someone undeserving of your kindness. Sincerely giving mercy can create an impressive change in brain chemistry that is transforming. A burden is lifted that gives the person a sense of freedom from darkness.

Granting mercy is comparable to receiving a new lease on life when it is given from the heart. 

So in giving mercy you receive freedom and in accepting mercy you give freedom to the one making the offer. Mercy sets you free, and when you accept God’s gift of mercy, nothing will ever be capable of separating you from that freedom bound up in his love for you. 

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Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

~Hebrews 4:16 New International Version

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How Resolute Is God's Gift of Mercy?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” I memorized this verse as a child, for it’s a proclamation of God’s unquestionable love and his gift of mercy.

Imagine a father playing games with his children and letting them win. His love and mercy for his children build a strong relationship that will endure for whatever life presents. No one is above the need for God’s gift of mercy.

We are all subject to straying from God’s mercy and love by becoming obsessed with what life offers, but God does not let go of us. Psalm 85 declares, “Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace will embrace. Mankind’s need for mercy will reach up to God from the earth, and God’s righteousness will be extended from heaven to comfort his people.” Praise God for his kindness, goodness, and love!          

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Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.

~Psalm 40:11 New International Version

 

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

~Proverbs 28:13 New International Version

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How Does Demonstrating Mercy Strengthen Our Character?

The first thing most people do when confronted with life-threatening problems is to ask God for help and mercy. We often attribute acts of mercy only to God, for he abounds in mercy and forgiveness, but does God expect us to show mercy to others as an act of our gratitude?

Matthew 18 includes a story of a man whose debts were so out of bounds, his creditor threatened legal procedures. Then motivated by an  act of mercy, the creditor forgave the entire debt. Instead of extending mercy to those indebted to him, however, this man viciously demanded payment.

David extended mercy to Saul by refusing to take revenge against him, but Saul refused to extend mercy to David and in doing so, set himself up for tragedy. God expects us to show mercy as an expression of thanksgiving for the abundant mercy he has shown us. 

Do you need to extend mercy to someone today? Then do it!          

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God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be shown mercy!

~Matthew 5:7 Contemporary English Version

 

So let us continue coming with courage to the throne of God’s unmerited favor to obtain his mercy and to find his spiritual strength to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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How Does Faith Give Promise of a New Day for You?

So many people are extremely sensitive about their age and try to hide growing older with all kinds of disguises. However, what creates a crisis far more severe than the inner tensions that accompany just getting older are the worries and stress that are produced.

Dissatisfaction and disappointments are a common part of life but are capable of producing good, provided the right attitude is present. Fear, anxiety, and worry are the usual triggers related to the stress of aging.

What helps us navigate through each stage of life is simple faith that there is positive significance for me in getting older. Faith is God’s gift and comes with assurance that life can be good even though there may be a dark night of the soul somewhere in the future. Faith in Jesus Christ brings light to darkness along with the promise of a new day awaiting me in the future. 

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So let us come boldly to God’s throne of love to get mercy and find love to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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On Saturday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

In Times of Need – God's Grace

What is perceived as an absolute need deserves more concern than what is wanted to make life more enjoyable. As a teenager my niece aspired to be a hospital pharmacist. Like most college students, she needed encouragement as she struggled with a difficult curriculum, but with self-discipline she completed the degree requirements.

God intended for our needs to be satisfied independently and by others. Our needs for intimacy and companionship can be realized only in healthy relationships. If needs transform into demands, resentment may evolve into exasperation and alienate the one attempting to fulfill those demands.

Unmet need may evolve into discontent and sadness. However, God promises to meet your needs, but not just what you want. Hebrews 4:16 is encouraging. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  This invitation is to trust God for all your needs.  

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The Lord is righteous in all he does, merciful in all his acts. He is near to those who call to him, who call to him with sincerity. He supplies the needs of those who honor him; he hears their cries and saves them.

~Psalm 145:17-19 Good News Bible

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A Defiant Display of Self-deception

Romantic relationships have consistently proven to be fertile fields where self-deception can sprout and grow. Being in love is comforting and exciting, but nerve-wrecking when reality exerts itself for recognition. Self-deception demonstrates itself when conflict is apparent but circumvented. Denial of what is obvious is self-deception.

Self-deception is believing insignificant issues are irrelevant, but trivial issues can evolve into major frustration when reality can no longer be suppressed. Moses grew to believe he could manage the needs of the Hebrew people instead of following God's initiatives. His flawed judgment proved to be extremely costly.

The people needed water so God instructed Moses to speak to a rock and water would flow from it. Defiantly, Moses struck the rock with his staff demonstrating his uncontrollable anger.  Always give anger time to subside before acting. Praise God for loving you and giving you wisdom for managing difficult situations.  

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“Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed. I, the Lord search the minds and test the hearts of people. I treat each of them according to the way they live, according to what they do.”  

~Jeremiah 17:9-10 Good News Bible

 

So let us continue coming with courage to the throne of God’s unmerited favor to obtain his mercy and to find his spiritual strength to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Mercy – Not Revenge – Is Sweet

When Samson lost his new wife, he immediately responded by seeking revenge. Revenge for him was to burn every field of grain, all vineyards and olive groves of those who were the object of his rage. Revenge was not justice, but an act of violence meant to satisfy rage.   

In this state, Samson was driven to do what his brain instructed, no matter how destructive. In these moments of rage nothing can dissuade a person to change their mind. Only after the adrenaline subsides is it possible to make a limited analysis of what transpired.

When that moment arrives, fear creates the compulsion to hide, but Psalm 139 explains there is no escaping God's presence. "Where can I go from your Spirit Lord? You know all I do. You’re around me on every side; your powerful arm protects me." What God did to redeem and give us a new beginning and to free us from the bondage of sin, he did out of great love and mercy. Praise God for the love and mercy of Christ Jesus. 

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God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you.

~Ephesians 2:4-5 Contemporary English Version

 

Let us therefore approach the throne of God with greatest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need.

~Hebrews 4:16 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

 

For if you forgive other people their failures, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not forgive other people, neither will your Father forgive you your failures.

~Matthew 5:14-15 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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Face Inner Struggles with Confidence

It's apparent that we bring to relationships values and habits acquired throughout our past. What come with us are inner strivings and conflicts that define us as unique human beings. What causes conflict is incompatibility between what we think and how we feel.

A young man left his family to find a job and enroll in college. Contending with the college enrollment system left him feeling lost and anxious. Embarrassed and too shy to seek help, he departed for home. Facing friends and family with failure was more acceptable to him than confronting the complexity of a system he didn’t understand, which to others seemed incompatible with his previous high academic performance.

Inner conflicts can play havoc with what you're actually capable of achieving. Yet self-confidence can increase to the point of overriding anxiety that previously told you to flee uncomfortable situations. However, focusing on God's presence in moments of anxiety will provide strength to face your inner struggles with confidence. 

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For the Lord will be your confidence and he will keep your foot from being caught.

~Proverbs 3:26 New American Standard Bible

Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Good News Bible

God gives me the strength to face anything.

~Philippians 4:13 Contemporary English Version