Day 7: Mercy Overflowing

Reading: Psalm 6:1-10

I'm sure you've had days like David. Days where words like "agony", "worn out", "grief", and "tears" seem to sum it up. David uses some powerful language here to talk about the agony he faces. He asks God when He'll hear his cries and wonders when the misery will end and his enemies taken away. But we also see that David knows that God is indeed a merciful God, and that He has heard his cries for help.
Life can sure throw some hard stretches our way. Sometimes it may feel like it will never end with bills, loneliness, health issues, and other unfortunate situations in life. But like David, we can remember that God hears us, and He is there to pull for us. Though the storm is rough, you'll come out a stronger person. Rely on God's mercy and remain confident that He hears you.


When did you face a time in life that things just seemed to go wrong, one after another? What did you do?



Looking back on that situation, how did you come out of it? How are you the person you are today because of it?



Reading: Matthew 5:43-6:24

Jesus teaches about being a person of mercy and humility. We read more from the Sermon on the Mount today, and realize more and more that God's way is not necessarily the world's view today. Jesus tells us to love those who have wronged us - something that isn't really practiced in our media and society. But we are warned that if we don't forgive those who have wronged us, the Lord will not forgive us. This may feel like a blunt threat, but if you think about it, those who truly carry the love of God in their hearts will forgive. They will display the love to others that God has displayed to them. It can be hard to forgive, and given the situation, may seem impossible. But that is the power of God's love and His mercy.
We are also told to not flaunt our faith. Praying in public and using the fancy words and babbling on and on are not what God wants. He also doesn't much care for displaying fasting and giving to those in need. When we announce to the world, or make it known that we've done these things, we get all the reward we will need right there. But when we keep it to ourselves and just delight in the satisfaction of being closer with God and growing in our faith, we will reap rewards in heaven.
A final warning we get in this reading is not to treasure things of this earth. Our true treasure and the apple of our eye should be above. When we put all of our time and energy into the things of this world that don't matter in the long run, instead of the work God has carved out for us, our hearts will be lost to that thing. We can not serve two masters, and money is a great example here. Basing our lives around the things of this world will only destroy our hearts for God. Remember why you're here and stick to what God has laid out for you - to carry out His mission and be called to a life of serving Him. The rewards for that are far greater than anything in this world can offer you!

Is there someone you need to forgive? What are you going to do about it?



What happens to true, genuine faith when it is flaunted for your own recognition?



Reading: Genesis 14:1-16:16

We see an ample amount of God's mercy in this ready. First with Lot and how Abram came to save him. We read yesterday that he got the good land from Abram, but ended up captured. God showed mercy and rescued him through Abram (and it won't be the last time). God also shows His mercy to Abram by making a covenant with him that He would give him a son. Abram believes God and he is praised for his righteousness.
Then when Abram and Sarai try to take matters into their own hands, instead of waiting on God's timing, Abram takes Sarai's servant, Hagar and gets her pregnant instead, since they wanted a son so badly. Because of this, Hagar is poorly treated out of Sarai's jealousy, and runs away. We see mercy poured out on Hagar though, as she is seen by God and remembered in her time of distress. She is blessed and returns home. We even see God show Abram and Sarai mercy in looking over the fact they took matters into their own hands, even after Abram stated his faith in God's covenant. We certainly have a merciful God.


When have you tried to take matters into your own hands, instead of waiting on God's timing? What happened?



How has God shown you mercy in a time you've felt hopeless and lost?



Mercy is a trait we can all take and use generously. God is a God of mercy, and we need to display His love to all around us by sharing that same love and mercy to not only our neighbors, but our enemies. With mercy comes humility. Both can be hard traits to grasp at times, but they are crucial in growing our faith.