From the Executive Director’s Heart

Back to True Self Index

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Psalm 25:6…

MERCY ME

God has been revealing His mercy to me at deeper levels these days. Or maybe I have been more willing to receive it. Because I operate in the counseling field, I would like to think that mercy is at the top of my motivational gifts list. However, God is showing me this is not the case. I must confess I’ve passed judgment on numerous occasions. As I have stepped back to objectify this more, I realize I was attempting to cover my own sin at anothers expense, much like the Prodigal son’s brother. I was blind to my own hypocrisy; that my heart had hardened to Pharisaical proportions. Jesus put it this way in Matthew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” And though He has done a deep work of healing in many areas of my life, the Great Physician is indicating it’s time for more surgery. Time to remove more of the poison from my soul, so He can dwell more fully and freely in this temple. The painful reality remains…I am not able to give beyond what I am willing to receive!

MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT!

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12-13  Webster’s Dictionary defines mercy as: 1. A refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, person’s in ones power; kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion. 2. The power to forgive or be kind; clemency. Rev. Dick Woodward describes grace and mercy this way: Grace- receiving something we don’t deserve.  Mercy - not receiving something we do deserve. So simple, yet so profound! When we picture God as condemning, distant and judgmental, then seeing Him as merciful will be hard to rectify. Shame, pride, unbelief and self-hatred keep us disconnected from the One who longs to lavish His unfailing love on us…

I SURRENDER

C.S. Lewis said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right then, have it your way.’” Grace, forgiveness, loving-kindness, justice, truth and many other adjectives help us to get a more accurate picture of God. Yet these words are more than definitions, they are all part of who God is (His nature and attributes). Don’t ask me how they can all co-exist in One Being at the same time, I just know they do. And even though there are times I don’t feel God’s goodness or I start doubting that He is there, this does not negate the reality that He is there and He does care. He knows what I am going through. In our fallen world and humanity, none of us are exempt from some level of pain, hurt and disappointment. And I’m not suggesting we deny our feelings and pretend like nothing has happened or that no injustice has occurred. There are always opportunities to either judge or show mercy in any given situation! But it is my choice to choose my response – Will I retaliate?  Will I medicate? Or will I abdicate? Will I surrender my will and my agenda at the feet of Jesus? Am I willing to invite Jesus into the painful places of my heart? In “The Purpose Driven Life”, Rick Warren notes, “Sometimes it takes years, but eventually you discover that the greatest hindrance to God’s blessing in your life is not others, it is yourself—your self-will, stubborn pride and personal ambition…If God is going to do His deepest work in you, it will begin with this [surrender.]” Warfare is imminent as our self-seeking flesh does battle with truth and humility. It is helpful here for me to picture Jesus on the cross as I mediate on the following scripture: "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:22-23

CROSS IS SPELLED : M E R C Y

His obedience has covered our disobedience. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8  Andy Comiskey comments, “His (Jesus) goal throughout His public ministry was to yield unto death, that the Father’s highest purposes would be achieved through His resurrection.” We can’t have a genuine resurrection of our true self unless and until we first go to the cross. It is there, when we honestly and humbly die to the false ways we have labored to secure love, that Jesus truly becomes Lord of our lives. CS Lewis observed, “The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become—because He made us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be…. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.”

THE THRONE OF GRACE

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16  Ask the Lord to give you a greater revelation of His mercy. He will! Though I don’t have room here to comment in depth, some ways I have found to help keep pride, disappointment, deception and denial away and in turn receive and give more of God’s mercy are as follows:

• Worship: “Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.” Rick Warren

• Praise: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6

• Confession & Repentance: deep confession = deep healing. “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28.13

• Forgiveness: giving up my right to get even; laying the wound and wounder down at the foot of the cross. “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col. 3:13

• Godly sorrow: “a broken and contrite heart He will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

• Prayer: thanksgiving, listening, interceding, petitioning, etc. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:16-18 

• God’s Word: Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2

• Healthy Boundaries: dividing lines that lend form and protection to one’s personal humanity; upholds respect and dignity. (For more on this key issue, please refer to the book “Boundaries” by Cloud & Townsend) “Men move boundary stones; they pasture flocks they have stolen.” Job 24:2

• Community: “And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and He gave Him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.” Ephesians 1:22-23   “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one Body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

• The Cross: If I fall, I want to be falling forward in the direction of the Cross. “For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.” Gal. 6:14

•  Truth: “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything.” Ephesians 4:15   "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.” Matt 18:15

• Love:   “We love because he first loved us.” John 4:19 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Cor. 13:4-8 

• Serving:  “Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

• Accountability:  “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

• Journaling: a personal, running account of our most intimate thoughts, feelings and conversations with God. “At the LORD's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey.” Numbers 33:2   

• Blessing:  “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life..” Deut 30:19-20

I close with this wonderful reminder from God’s merciful heart… “It is because of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23     <><

Back to True Self Index