THIS YEAR, LIVE BY THE BEATITUDES (5)

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’

Just a reminder that this week is our week of prayer. If you signed up to pray please keep your time slot and pray. Amy and my hope is that we keep the prayer chain unbroken as we pray for the needs of many this week. On Thursday we will be meeting @7pm @CFW to unite in prayer together as we ask God to bring revival to our church, City, State, and Nation.

 

Lets look at the fifth Beatitude today "Blessed are the Merciful." When you Hurt your enemy it puts you below them; taking revenge makes you even with them; forgiving sets you above them. The Bible says, ‘…Never take revenge. Leave that to…God…’ (Romans 12:19 NLT). Revenge is not sweet; it leaves a bitter taste. It keeps you in such a constant stew that you’re not able to enjoy God’s blessing. Don’t let that happen to you. Instead choose to: 1) Forgive and forget. Unforgiveness just keeps you on the treadmill of resentment. Why’s it so important to you to make others wrong and yourself right? If you’re right but miserable, what good is it? Listen to Christ’s words: ‘If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you’ (Matthew 6:14 NKJV). Charles Spurgeon said, ‘When you bury a mad dog don’t leave his tail above the ground.’ So forgive, bury it and move on. 2) Deal with the roots of your anger. Sometimes the source of our anger is hidden from us; we are ‘acting out’ the unresolved hurts within us. Exaggerated anger is often displaced anger. Instead of dealing with the person who hurt us, we vent our wrath on those closest to us. Ask God to show you where the real issue lies, then deal with it. 3) Take back your power. Mercy heals, but unforgiveness makes you a perpetual victim. Plus, while you’re obsessing over the event and planning your payback, the other person is out enjoying life. God has promised you justice, so leave it in His hands. In fact, the only people you should consider getting even with are those who’ve helped you. That may blow your mind, but that's Gods way...you are loved!