grace

DEAR GOD: Your Mercy & Love Is Life Sustaining~

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Embracing God’s Love Through Mercy and Forgiveness

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13 (NLT)

 

In Colossians 3:12-13, we are reminded of the profound love God has for us and the virtues we are called to embody as His chosen people. This passage encourages us to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, mirroring the forgiveness we have received from the Lord.

Supportive Scriptures

  • Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
  • Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
  • 1 Peter 3:8: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

Moral Takeaways

  1. Tenderhearted Mercy: We are called to show compassion and empathy towards others, understanding their struggles and offering support.
  2. Kindness: Acts of kindness, no matter how small, reflect God’s love and can have a profound impact on those around us.
  3. Humility: Recognizing our own imperfections helps us to be more forgiving and less judgmental.
  4. Gentleness and Patience: These virtues help us to navigate conflicts and misunderstandings with grace and understanding.
  5. Forgiveness: Forgiving others is not just a suggestion but a command that reflects the forgiveness we have received from God.

Scenarios in Today’s World

  • Workplace Conflicts: Imagine a colleague who consistently undermines your efforts. Instead of harboring resentment, approach them with kindness and seek to understand their perspective. This can lead to a more harmonious work environment.
  • Family Disputes: Family gatherings can sometimes bring up old wounds. Choosing to forgive and let go of past grievances can heal relationships and bring peace.
  • Social Media Interactions: In the age of digital communication, misunderstandings are common. Responding with gentleness and patience rather than anger can defuse potential conflicts.

What God Expects from Christians

God expects us to be reflections of His love and grace in the world. By embodying these virtues, we become living testimonies of His transformative power. Our actions and attitudes should draw others towards the love of Christ.

Reflective Questions

  1. Are there areas in my life where I struggle to show mercy and kindness?
  2. How can I practice humility in my daily interactions?
  3. Is there someone I need to forgive, and what steps can I take towards forgiveness?
  4. How can I cultivate patience and gentleness in challenging situations?

Prayer

“Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing us to be Your holy people. Help us to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Teach us to forgive others as You have forgiven us. May our lives be a reflection of Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

Meditative Thought and Scripture

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15

 May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
 May the Lord show you His favor
    and give you His peace.’

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DEAR GOD: You Alone Are LORD & Creator Of All~

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God Created All Things 3 Items

Nehemiah 9:6 (ESV): “You are the Lord, You alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships You.”

Heartfelt Reflection:

As we meditate on Nehemiah 9:6, we are reminded of the grandeur and majesty of our Creator. This verse beautifully encapsulates the essence of God’s sovereignty and His unparalleled power. It is a profound declaration of faith, acknowledging that God alone is the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, and the Giver of life.

In our daily lives, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the challenges and distractions that surround us. Yet, this verse calls us to pause and reflect on the greatness of our God. It invites us to marvel at the vastness of the universe, the intricacies of creation, and the life-giving breath that sustains us. As devout Christians and followers of Christ, we are called to worship and adore Him, recognizing that everything we see and experience is a testament to His glory.

Supporting Scriptures:

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Our Master Creator – all things because of Him all we see is because of Him. Came into creation because of Him!

Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” –Again, everywhere we walk, look, and see – all because of Him and His Omnipotent and Sovereign power!

Colossians 1:16-17: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” –We are created by Him for Him and all we do should be a reflection of His light and glory! He is the One that holds the blueprints of our life in His very hands!

Moral Takeaways:

  1. Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty: Recognize that God is the ultimate authority over all creation. He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything.
  2. Worship with Reverence: Approach God with a heart full of awe and reverence, knowing that He is worthy of all our praise and adoration.
  3. Trust in His Power: In times of uncertainty and difficulty, trust in God’s power and His ability to provide and sustain us.

Reflective Questions:

  1. How often do I take time to marvel at God’s creation and acknowledge His greatness?
  2. In what ways can I incorporate worship and adoration into my daily routine?
  3. How can I deepen my trust in God’s sovereignty, especially during challenging times?

 Unified Closing Prayer:

“LORD, Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and awe. You alone are the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, and the Giver of life. We thank You for the beauty of Your creation and the life-giving breath that sustains us each day. Help us to recognize Your Sovereignty in all things and to worship You with reverence and adoration. Strengthen our faith and trust in Your power, especially during times of uncertainty and difficulty. May our lives be a testament to Your glory, and may we always seek to honor You in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

Scripture to Take Away:

Psalm 95:6: “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”

May this reflection on Nehemiah 9:6 inspire you to draw closer to God and to recognize His greatness in every aspect of your life. Blessings to you! 🙏

Your worst day with God will be better
than your best day without Him!
1 Corinthians 3:23 (KJV) | Bible verses kjv, Christian verses, Bible ...

 

DEAR GOD: Thank You For Your Comfort & Word~

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Isaiah 40:1 (ESV)
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

One thing we all need at times is comfort. We all need comfort at one time or another. We can expect comfort from the LORD in His Word and in His promises. That is a considerable amount of comfort to all those who follow Him.

We can have intense sadness at any given point in our lives, in many ways. Death, financial ruins, sickness, loss of family, friends due to misunderstandings, etc.  Then there is the elderly that seems to be a population that gets lost in the crevices of life. As those who are aging, they sense the loss of “youth” as it slips by in a subtle manner, yet reality adds up and we start to realize our limitations. We have to recognize that certain aspects of our functioning start waning.

But we adapt to our circumstances and go according to what we can accept for what our body and condition allows us at each passing point in time. We need to realize that time cannot work in “reverse” nor can the “aging process.” Those who are aging are aging no doubt about it. But we of faith have something “new” each day…the promises and His Word that brings life to our spirit and soul. The spirit remains young, and it is that spirit we need to hold onto as we navigate the world from whatever our age is.

All human life is temporary. All flesh is grass and flowers of the field. The grass will wither and the flower fades, but the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). 

Again, successfully aging is fully accepting limitations, not giving up on life and doing what we can to keep our spiritual connection with the LORD and His Word. Following Him in obedience and compliance. And honoring Him all the days of our lives.

God comforts us through the good news of His Gospel and His saving Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ.  And that is this is the best kind of comfort that we could every received. His grace and His love are boundless and a veritable treasure that goes beyond anything we sustain or obtain here on earth. Amen!

Psalms 119:76: (KJV)
“Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.”

“LORD, may I always find comfort in Your Word, in Your love and in Your grace that sustain and maintains me all the days of my life, and beyond, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”