Blessed are the Merciful
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV)
The Lord says: “I am taking you on a journey to expand your heart.”
It is not enough that you love family and friends and forgive them when they offend you by word or deed. Your love for them covers a multitude of offences and you know My commands to you about forgiveness. But don’t those who do not know Me do the same as you? Is the bar of forgiveness and mercy set so low?
I require a level of mercy from you that will test you in the days ahead. I will ask you to forgive those who ignore and shun you, those who set themselves up against you, those who plot against you and seek your downfall, those who show enmity towards you and those who are false to you.
I know the pain and hurt this will cause you. Just as a mother lovingly cares for and protects her newborn baby, so I lovingly care and protect you who are weak and vulnerable. I will be with you at these times of trial, I will be your strength.
My Spirit will enlarge your heart so that you can forgive – by acknowledging the hurt, letting you see beyond the offence and denying bitterness and resentment from constricting your heart. As you share in My sufferings, so you will share in My comfort.
Activation:
The Hebrew word for mercy is ‘rachamim’, meaning to love tenderly, to pity, to sympathise with and to have compassion for. It is closely related to the word for ‘womb’ – representing the unconditional love a mother has for her baby.
Ask Holy Spirit to help you visualise yourself being held like a child in the hands of a truly loving God. What are the sensations that you feel? Can you feel His love completely surrounding you? This is the same God who sent His Son to die on a cross – deserted by his friends, vilified by the crowds and who, as they cast lots for his clothes, said: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
Make mercy an action word. Allow Holy Spirit to show you any unresolved areas of forgiveness and agree to keep short accounts. Pause and pray before responding, remembering that picture of God’s love for you. Surrender any thoughts of justice to the Lord.
Psalm 145:8-9 (ESV)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Colossians 3:12-13 (NLT)
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
