New Day, New Mercies
Read Time: 5 MinutesAnchor Scripture
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
In life, every decision we make has a consequence. Our culture has created a negative connotation around that word [consequence] but what it really means is that “everything I do, and even the things I choose not to do (avoid), will produce a particular effect or result. For example, if you choose to stay up late knowing you have an early rise time, the consequence is that you’re likely exhausted and struggling to make it through the day. If you chose to eat a healthy meal rather than the $5 meal deal you know makes you sick and still leaves you hungry two hours later, the consequence is that you have more energy and saved yourself a few dollars and possibly a stomach ache. The reality is that everything we do produces some sort of outcome and we, in most cases, are responsible for those consequences. The amazing and detrimental thing about choice is that we have the autonomy to make decisions for better or for worse. The hope in this though, is that with every decision and every lesson learned from those decisions, we can make a choice to do something different. Each moment and every day can be seen as a new slate where we can decide to make choices that better align with who God is calling us to be and produce the outcomes in our life we desire to see.
When it comes to choices and consequences, it’s important to grasp the mercy of God because it’s what will help us walk in true freedom. In the beginning, it only took one poor decision (eating the forbidden fruit) to bring detriment to the entire human race; In the same token, it took one amazing decision (Jesus laying His life down) to change our trajectory and correct that poor decision. You see, some of you may be stuck on the mistakes of yesterday, or the poor choices of just a few moments ago, but God says His mercies for you are NEW EVERY MORNING. While we must take ownership and responsibility over our actions, we don’t have to live in the shadow of condemnation and shame of the sinful things we may have done or are learning to break out of as new creatures in Christ. When you understand that you are FORGIVEN, REDEEMED, and WASHED CLEAN, you will begin to live from that identity instead of trying to strive for it or hide in the shame of your shortcomings (which we all have). My friend, the word tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but the good news is that in Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)! All of us, because of our own poor choices or that of our ancestors, were once dead in trespasses and sins, but because of God’s mercy and love, He sent Jesus, the only perfect sacrifice, so that we could receive everlasting life!
This is the mercy of God: that the punishment we deserved for our sins was placed on Jesus so that we could walk in life and liberty, for eternity! He paid the price we couldn’t pay and died the death we deserved all so that we could be reconciled to the Father! HALLELUJAH! God’s mercy is demonstrated in the fact that we received a pardon none of us deserved. That mercy is available to us every. single .day. Not to abuse it, but to remember it and walk in appreciation for it and victory for being brought from darkness into His marvelous light. It’s only by His mercy that we are not "consumed;” Meaning we are no longer subject to the destructive pull of sin and death, nor the wrath of God we deserved that abides on the sons of disobedience. This is a heavy reality, but it ought to make you shout, jump, and scream hallelujah because the only Perfect, Righteous, Holy God loves you so much He made a way for us to never be separated from His love; That way was and is Jesus. This week, go out in the mercies of God knowing that you are forgiven, redeemed, and set free!
PRAY
Heavenly Father, I thank you for being the hero of my story. Thank You for saving me and for showing me mercy I could not have earned. I am so grateful that Your love for me was and is stronger than the power of sin and darkness. I treasure that the blood of Jesus has reconciled me to Yourself and restored me to wholeness again. I ask You today to grant me eyes to see myself with Your eyes. Help me to understand that I am totally forgiven, set free, and redeemed. Teach me to walk in the truth that Your mercies sustain me and Your compassion and faithfulness toward me never fail. I repent for anything I have done in word, thought, or deed, or neglected to do, and ask that you forgive me and wash me clean (1 John 1:9). Set me free from any feelings of shame or condemnation and help me to live in victory and accept the free gift of your forgiveness through the Blood. In Jesus, I know I have been shown eternal mercy, so, Lord, help me to receive and live in revelation of the daily mercies You bring, in Jesus’ mighty and matchless name—Amen.
ACT
The word mercy in Hebrew is the term, “ḥeseḏ,” which means “goodness, kindness, or faithfulness.” Each day this week, identify at least one way God has demonstrated His mercy (goodness, kindness, faithfulness) and write it somewhere you can come back to. Keep a running list until the end of the week, then write a prayer of thanksgiving highlighting all the ways He showed His mercy to you this week. BONUS: Share this activity with a loved one and reflect together on God’s goodness demonstrated in your life the past week.
