Mercy!

I told you before about the goals I'm striving to meet for the year, one month at a time, that is. Well, this month my focus has been on MERCY. It's something that has not come naturally to me all my life, and I recognize the need to be intentional about looking at others through Christ's eyes and not from my own self-centered perspective. You can't have His perspective on yourself and not want to show mercy to others! So that's one of the main heart work agendas God has going on in me right now. As I've thought about this, I've realized a few things:

1.) It's SO much easier to show mercy to people who show me mercy. The ones who don't...well, they're the more difficult ones to love in a merciful way. I know it's obvious, but I sure have seen where that's been true in my heart lately. I've shown major favoritism in my administering of mercy, and it's no doubt a result of my selfishness. Simple. Dealing with that favoritism will require a major shift in my expectations of people and my desires. Relationships cannot be about me receiving. I must look to be a blessing. And not be concerned with what I get in return. His glory should be my only goal.

2.) With these relationships in which it's more difficult to offer mercy, I must discipline myself to take intentional action towards doing it. I need a list. Simple action plans for going the extra mile in showing merciful love. And when I don't know what those actions should be, I need to be on my knees. God will always show me ways to love someone, if I'm willing to do it.

3.) In order to take action towards showing mercy, I need accountability. I'm blessed to have a friend who will ask me if I did the thing I said I needed to do. I'm not so sure I'd learn mercy otherwise. No. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't at all.

So, the best thing I know to do, along with these other things, is to remind myself of the grace I've been given. Grace that has offered me a new life. A new heart. A new mindset. Everything amazing about life (Ephesians 1:3-14). And it's all completely undeserved. Why would I not want everyone else to experience that grace gift too?!