New Year Expectations for God's Mercy

 What are your specific expectations for this coming New Year? You may hope everything will remain the same so that your life stays predictable. Are you waiting and hoping for the world to make significant changes so you will feel more secure and safe? Thousands of people are preparing to ring out 2022 and celebrate the coming New Year with fun and laughter.

New Year’s celebrations and parties can be a happy, joyful time to acknowledge what God has provided for us out of his love and kindness. As we are willing and able to express an attitude of gratitude for God’s goodness, our hearts are transformed into repositories overflowing with God’s mercy.

What significant change do you expect to make in this coming New Year? As you consider what that one expectation could be, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to speak to you clearly, and then commit your heart and soul to pursuing that objective. The Lord God promises you a bright future. Happy New Year and God bless you!    

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The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him.

~Lamentations 3:22-25  Good News Bible

 

Overflow with mercy and compassion for others just as your heavenly Father overflows with mercy and compassion for all. 

~Luke 6:36 The Passion Translation

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Don't Get Even, Get Merciful

An interesting cliché from out of the past advised: “Don't get angry, get even,” but that advice isn’t compatible with the Christian faith. However there is an automatic reaction to being threatened physically or emotionally. On the other hand, feelings of vengeance can conceal the pain of humiliation, grief and hopelessness.

When Eric discovered his wife Jan was having an affair, he forced her to leave the house and promised that she would never see their children again. She had humiliated him before his family and friends, so he was determined to get even by separating her from their children by having their case heard before a jury. 

Jesus challenged an angry crowd who wanted to stone to death a woman caught in adultery. “He who has not sinned, let him cast the first stone.” There will be a moment when God speaks to your heart to give you wisdom for managing hurtful situations. His way includes forgiveness as opposed to retribution, understanding rather than hatred and real sorrow as opposed to bitterness. God heals broken hearts.  

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They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

Then he stooped down and again wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord.” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

~John 8:7-11 New Living Translation

Continue to be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

~Luke 6:36 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People