Reading through the Bible- God's mercy

  

James 2:23

For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I am so glad that my God and Father does not treat me as my sins deserve, but is rich in His mercy towards me. Every day I get to experience His new mercies! (Lamentations 3:22-23) In Matthew 5:7, Jesus tells us Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (KJV) I am painfully aware that in my own life, I need all the mercy that I can get. So if I want mercy for myself, I better be a dispenser of mercy to everyone I meet too!

My prayer is that we would be a people who continue to walk in the amazing love and mercy that God bestows on us, so that we can be a vessel of His mercy to others. 

May we actually love showing mercy (Micah 6:8) to those who don't deserve it and be an expression of our Lord's mercy to all those we meet. (Luke 6:36) 

The mercy of our God and Father will triumph over every form of judgment in your own life. Believe it. Receive it. Love it... and give it away!

Reading through the Bible-God's strength

2 Samuel 22:33-34, "33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.

34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.

King David's declaration of God's faithfulness after he was delivered from the murderous pursuit of his father-in-law, King Saul. He proclaims to everyone who will hear, that God is his strength and power and makes his feet sturdy, like the sure footing of the deer who climb the mountaintops.With God on our side, we are able to climb to great heights knowing that He will help us stand firm in the highest of places. We have nothing to fear. He is able to keep us from falling. May our God and Father strengthen you and give you the sure footing you need today, no matter what obstacles you face, so you can experience the fullness of His loving care.

Reading through the Bible-Rest in God

Psalm 91:1, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

For anyone who struggles with fear, read Psalm 91 over and over again. It is a psalm that will bring reassurance to a troubled heart.

Today's promise speaks of a resting place in the heart of God that every believer has access to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It is called the secret place of the most High, the shadow of the Almighty. In this place, we are completely safe and secure. Nothing can harm us there! What a picture of God's protection and His care!

Verse 4 goes on to say that our God will cover us with His feathers and provide shelter for us under His wings. When I think of this picture, I imagine a mother eagle hovering over her little eaglets, sheltering them in their nest from anything that would bring them harm or make them feel distressed.

My prayer today is that each and every one of us would find the secret place of the living God and make our home there all the days of our lives. Can you imagine what life could look like if we could live there every minute of every day?

Reading through the Bible-God's annointing

1 John 2:27, "As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you,

and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him."
  

The Apostle John tells us that the anointing that comes from God abides in us and will teach us all the things that we need to know. The Greek word used for anointing in this passage is chrisma which is the root word for charisma or charismatic.

The Enhanced Strong's Lexicon describes it as anything smeared on, unguent, ointment. This usually described the ceremony process when a priest was anointed as he was launched into public ministry. It is interesting to think that God has smeared us with His very presence so that we too can live our lives on earth as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6).

This is an amazing truth...We are the temple of His Holy Spirit and the abiding place of God Almighty Himself! God has promised to lead us and guide us in all truth if we will simply have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying.

My prayer today is that we would all be aware of the anointing that our God and Father has smeared on us that identifies us as His beloved sons and daughters. May each one of us have the confidence to know that we are not walking alone in this life, but the anointing will lead us and teach us everything we need to know.

Reading through the Bible-Gods care for us

  

Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you."

The world renowned Niagara Falls is part of the incredible torrent of water that flows between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario here in Canada. Whenever I get the opportunity to come close to its river bank, I see first hand the incredible power of its rapids. What can possibly withstand such a raging force?

In today's promise, our God tells us that no matter how deep the water we wade in, or how raging the river that comes against us in life, we will not be overwhelmed...for He is with us. His love for us is stronger than anything that would try and come against us and overtake us. The first part of Zephaniah 3:17 says... For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. 

My prayer today is that each one of us would know how big and how strong our God is. No matter the size of the opposition coming against our lives or those we love, God is bigger. He has promised to be with us when we pass through the waters so that we will not be overwhelmed because that is what good fathers do! May we rest in His loving care today. 

Reading through the Bible-God's Care for us

Psalm 31:7, "I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness,for you have seen my affliction.

You have known my soul in adversities. 

I love David's transparency when writing the Psalms. He never tried to cover up his true feelings. He was honest in his communication with God. In today's Bible verse found in Psalm 31:7, we read how David was keenly aware of the steadfast love that God had for him. He was also aware that God understood his suffering and deeply cared for him in the midst of his distress.

No matter what pain you are going through in your life today, God understands. He knows us more than we know ourselves. When He sees our struggles and our suffering, His heart is filled with compassion for us. As David also wrote in Psalm 103:13-14, God has compassion on us just like a good father has compassion on his children.  May you and I be overwhelmed with His steadfast love today in the midst of our suffering.

Reading through the Bible-Fear not

  

Isaiah 41:10, "Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you.  Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness."
Jesus told us in Luke 12:32 to fear not, for it is our Father's good pleasure to give us His kingdom. God doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us rather to live in the safety and security of knowing that He loves us and He is for us (Romans 8:31). The reason why we don't have to be afraid is because He is with us wherever we go. 

 In today's Bible verse, God promises to be with us wherever we go. He promises to strengthen us, help us and hold us up with His mighty right hand. 

Psalm 27:1... Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?