We all know to some breadth and depth that we possess impulses for selfishness that correspond with our sin nature.
"We all fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).
Perhaps this is why extending mercy is so hard for us to do....because we often don't accept God's mercy for ourselves first.
Because mercy is holding back what someone DOES deserve.
And what happens when we believe that our OWN mistakes deserve judgment, and are not worthy of mercy?
It is in slow thinking, the SLOWING DOWN of dialogue with God through prayer, reflection WITH God, and revelation FROM Him, that we can recognize how and where we may be sabotaging our own calling by failing to receive God's mercy....
not feeling worthy of it....because we are allowing sin and poor choices to define us, rather than allowing God to conform us through them.
In other words, we don't believe that God's mercy is greater than Any/All of our Biggest Mistakes.....we don't feel that we are worthy of receiving His mercy until we get all of our " life " together....
and consequently because we are not allowing the inflow of God's mercy to wash over us, we don't let it flow out to others.
Paul, the major author of the New Testament, was in a constant posture of awe at the mercy of God.
Why?
Because He was a man who persecuted and killed people who followed Jesus' teachings.
He deserved God's judgment.
Instead he received God's mercy.
He came to understand profoundly that God will never define you by your mistakes:
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...Phil. 3:13.
He understood that:
"Hidden in every mistake is a portal of possibility. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me...Phil 3:14.
Mistakes are never a prison; they're a pathway to what's next.
God out-mercies the greatest of your mistakes.
The prodigal son is never defined by his time away from the father.
"Hell wants to chain you but heaven wants to free you.
God is not going to hold you hostage to your mistakes.
God says, "Move on!"
God uses mistakes to move us on.
God comes with a still, small gentle voice and gives great mercy." Jentezen Franklin
Now.
Always.
Not if.
Not when.
Now.
Always.
For when you are open to receive this gift of mercy from the Father for your mistakes, understanding its purpose to free you and live into its freedom, you will then be freed to be able to extend mercy to others-
Are you being chained to a past mistake?
Here is God's Love Letter and prayer for you today.
My Beloved Daughter:
I am extending my mercy to you today, but you must learn to forgive yourself! I do not want you to miss out on the amazing things that I have in store for you because you continue to hold on to the mistakes of your past.
My mercy is intended to free you, not to confine or define you.
I throw your sins into the depths of the sea to remember them no more: "I will again have compassion on you; I will tread your sins underfoot and hurl all your iniquities into the depth of the sea." (Micah 7:19).
Don't forget that I am all-knowing and I would never constantly bring up your sins before you, then why would you?
Do not listen to the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev 12:10). He will use your insecurities with your relationship with me to make you feel as if I am holding things over your head.
I do not do that to my children.
You must choose NOT to embrace the deception of the enemy that is telling you to constantly relive your mistakes over and over again.
Receive MY mercy! "For I did not send My son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."(John 3:17)
Choose to embrace my mercy today.
It's always here for you every day.
Now.
Always.
Not If.
Not When.
Not because you have your act together, but because I want you to be my vessel of mercy to carry with you wherever you go-
For you, and for all the rest of my creation.
With Agape Love and so much faith in YOU,
Abba Father ❤️🌅💐
From Lyn Woodruff, The River Prayer Teams.
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