Every Morning

This passage in Lamentations chapter 3 gives me such HOPE. In the midst of this book written out of despair, anger, bitterness, slavery, exile, and enemies invading- Jeremiah gives us unbelievable assurance that IN THE MIDST of trial and heartache, we can always turn to the promises of renewal the Lord gives us.

 I've been reading a lot recently about forgiveness. The forgiveness the Lord washes and bathes me in EVERY day and the forgiveness we are to extend to others... AS a RESPONSE of the Lord's forgiveness and grace to us. 

Because of the Lord's love for us that is beyond what any of us can fathom, we are not consumed, depleted, extinguished or devoured by our sin. Praise God!  What a pit we would be in- if we were defined by our sin and our flaws. But, because the grace of Jesus DOES consume and overwhelm me, in His eyes, I'm defined as loved and valued. I don't get it WHY I deserve that from the creator of the whole world, but I am wholly grateful and eternally filled by that promise.

So once again as a RESPONSE to His love and kindness to us, we are to extend it to others. I'll be very upfront with you on this... I find this very hard. To the people who have misguided me, hurt me, and who have taken advantage of my vulnerability... I don't find it easy to pray for God to bless them. I don't find it easy for me to wish them well, or to grieve for their despair (proverbs calls us to do this). I've had people in leadership betray my trust and because of that I am always suspiciously guarded.  But, as the Lord reminds me of His compassion that is NEW every. single. morning.....I'm praying that He will show me what it looks like for MY source of compassion to be solely rooted in His very heart. If I'm going to be compassionate because it makes me look better, well, I need to re-define my WHOLE intent in being in relationship with others. (I've learned that by making ourselves more "likeable" we also make ourselves less relatable. I'm working on making myself MORE relatable... but people will have to deal with my insecurities, failings and short-comings.)  With knowing and walking with Jesus, there is so much power for discipleship and growth.  I'm hopeful that he will rid me of my bitterness and will enable me to restore compassion for others every. single. morning.   In essence, to be more like Jesus and to wean myself from the world and all the hypocrisy and spite it brings. 

As you're living in the home with your children, your spouse or working in an environment with lots of different personalities, pray for your compassion to mimic and mirror the Lord's. What that looks like in my life, is more grace, more benevolence, more kindness, more mercy and less judgement, less bitterness and less hostility.  I'm praying that my compassion will be renewed every single morning. There are going to be days in which I totally fail... but, where I fall short the Lord shows me grace. He doesn't punish me for my flaws or judgements and for that, I am so thankful. 

If there's something that is holding you back, give this song a listen. It repeats over and over- "Break every chain, there is power in the NAME of Jesus." I desire for chains of bondage that are holding me back from being completely loving or completely compassionate to be broken. This song is totally a prayer of my heart.... today.