The Blessing Of Kindness and Mercy

Your kindness will reward you,
    but your cruelty will destroy you.

—Proverbs 11:17 (NLT)

God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.

—Matthew 5:7 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to live out each day of my life showing merciful kindness to everyone I meet, so that I might come to understand the depth of the mercy and kindness which You pour out on me every day.

You have shown me that I cannot be merciful and kind to others without experiencing the rewards of that mercy and kindness flowing back on myself—so why would I ever act in any other way?

You have shown me that while my cruelty toward others may tear down and destroy them, it tears me down and destroys me all the more—so why would I ever choose to continue to act that way?

As much as I need Your constant kindness and mercy, I need to express that same kindness and mercy to others—so help me always to choose to act this way.

Help me to live out each day of my life showing merciful kindness to everyone I meet, so that I might come to understand the depth of the mercy and kindness which You pour out on me every day.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Everlasting Foundation

The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;
    the hopes of the godly will be granted.

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
    but the godly have a lasting foundation.

—Proverbs 10:24 (NLT)

Everlasting Father,

Thank You for being the eternal and unchanging foundation upon which my life is built.

Thank You that I don’t share in the fears of evil people—fears that torment them through this life and then drag them to the horrible death that lies before them for eternity.

Thank You that because I stand in Christ’s righteousness and hope in His salvation, I don’t have to fear anything that comes in this life, here on earth—or in my new life that awaits me there with You forever.

Thank You that I am not left without Your truth to hold on to when the storms of life come—whirled away like the wicked in hopelessness and despair.

Thank You that, because You are always working for my good, the storms of life can only serve to make me stronger—more securely established on the foundation of Your everlasting love.

Thank You for being the eternal and unchanging foundation upon which my life is built.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Truly Glad

So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

—1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

In the midst of the trials of life that I face here on earth, set my eyes toward the wonderful joy that lies ahead of me, so that I might be truly glad in every circumstance.

Help me to remain truly glad at all times—steadfastly walking by faith and confident of the hope that is mine.

Help me to remember that my trials will not last forever—for even my life here on earth lasts for only a little while—when compared to the eternity with You that lies ahead for me.

Help me to see trials as tests of my faith—so that rather than crying out, “Why is this happening to me?” I might confidently trust You to carry me through—and so prove my faith to be genuine as You allow me to be tested and purified.

Help me to remain faithful—persevering through every hurt, loss, sorrow and disappointment, and not giving in to discouragement or despair—so that on that day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world, my life might more purely reflect the praise, glory and honor that is His alone.

In the midst of the trials of life that I face here on earth, set my eyes toward the wonderful joy that lies ahead of me, so that I might be truly glad in every circumstance.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.