Month: November 2022

Those who hear me pray often will recognize the phrase “your mercies are new every morning.” It’s such a hopeful reminder.

These are some of my favorite verses in the Bible. Today, they were the focus in The Upper Room devotional.

No matter how many times we fail to be the people we want to be, we can always try again. God does not have this finite measure of mercy. We don’t use it all up and then find a hard, ruthless God. No, every day we get a fresh, generous measure of mercy!

Let’s define a few words right quick.

• Justice is getting what is deserved. The scales are balanced.
• Mercy is not getting the consequences you deserve. When justice says you deserve punishment and you do not get it, this is mercy. The scales are not balanced. The heavy weight of justice is lightened.
• Grace is getting more than you deserve toward the positive. Blessings represent a form of grace.

God is a god of love. Because God loves, justice is a value. He does not desire any to suffer and be crushed or oppressed. But because God is also love, he is patient hoping we will choose to live as he instructs and consequences may be averted.

When we are trying to live as God taught us—especially as seen and heard in the life of Jesus—God’s loving nature extends to us mercy and grace for all the ways we fail to hit our target.

One of the most helpful things we can do to further our journey is to stop thinking of God as itching to punish us.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease.

Do. Not. Give. Up!

Goodness, friends, some days God really shows up with a comment on where we are. Have you noticed that?

I’m convinced that God always shows up for us—because God never leaves or forsakes us. I’m also convinced that there’s always encouragement and “a word” when we need it—if we are paying attention enough to notice them. (Cultivating this awareness is the key to achieving and maintaining our sense of peace no matter what is going on around us.)

A few days ago, the Verse of the Day on the YouVersion Bible App was one of those times for me. In a conversation with colleagues the evening before, I expressed this sentiment regarding one aspect of our ministry lives.

It’s okay to be tired. Or frustrated. It’s okay to question things, lots of things, everything. But don’t quit!

Try these things instead:

• Take a break.
• Take a nap.
• Get a snack.
• Go for a walk.
• Call a friend.
• Find an encouraging verse and meditate (breath and repeat the verse) for 5 minutes (or 3 or 1–whatever you can is better than nothing).

Here’s a breath prayer for this verse:
(Inhale) Lord, I won’t give up.
(Exhale) I’ll wait for your harvest.