Obtaining Mercy

I love the following verses:

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard: thou shalt leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10

In the midst of giving the Law in all it's complexities to Moses, God gives them the above instructions. These verses encompass so many things:

• compassion
• selflessness
• kindness
• charitable giving
• thankfulness
• faith

God is telling them that when they harvest their crops and their vineyards, they are not to gather everything from the crop. They are to leave certain areas of the crops and of the vineyards unpicked.

These sections were to be left for the poor who did not have their own crops, and for the strangers who had not been in the area long enough to have fields producing food.

This principle requires a heart of faith that God will meet our needs even though we do not gather everything; and a spirit of compassion to see another's need and invite them to take part of the blessing that we've been given.

This attitude is one of the first to go by the wayside when we lose our hope.

We become fearful and grasping, and are determined to cling to all that we have not yet lost. Our focus is on ourselves and our need; and we do not notice those around us who need something that we have.

It is difficult to change our focus and notice those in need around us when we feel we are in such great need ourselves; but I challenge you that it is so important to do.

When we can acknowledge that someone else has a need at least as important as our need, and when we can consider our part in meeting that need, we are beginning to regain our hope.

Hope is not only believing that God can meet my need, but that He can use me to meet the need of someone else.

I challenge you to look around you for someone who needs something that you can give.

• an encouraging phone call
• a sweet thank you note
• a few hours of babysitting
• some items from your pantry
• a home-cooked meal
• a pat on the back
• a hug
• a smile
• a Bible verse on a notecard
• a book or magazine to read
• dishes washed
• laundry washed or folded
• hand-me-downs from your closet
• a cup of coffee with a friend
• prayer
• a kind word fitly spoken

There is SO much that we can give, when we ask the Lord to open our eyes to the needs of others – even when we think we are so in need we could not possibly have anything to give another.

There is great hope in meeting another person's need, even when we ourselves are so needy.

Sometimes our enemy plans our demise:

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may by hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
Esther 5:14

Our life, however, is in the hand of our King:

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. The the king said, Hang him thereon.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
Esther 7:9-10

He destroys the enemy's plan and exalts us in due time:

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Esther 10:3

Do not be fearful of what the enemy may have planned for you today.

Just be sure you are the one who has "spoken good for the King" today.

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalm 59:16

There is great hope in leaving the details to God.

I used to believe that to maintain my "hope" meant to continue to believe that God would eventually give me what my heart desired…

Literally that I would continue to hope FOR something.

However, now I believe that true hope is rooted much more deeply than that.

To have hope in my soul, I must believe that IF God does not eventually give me what my heart desires…

• I can still be content in Him.
• I can continue to trust Him.
• I can continue to have faith in His goodness.

If God was good enough to me to provide my salvation from Hell through His Son's death on the cross, why would He not continue to fill my life with His goodness?

He does. And He will.

I only have to be willing to truly believe it.

The more of God's goodness I look for,
The more of God's goodness I see.

The more of God's goodness I see,
The more grateful I become.

The more grateful I become,
The more I can believe in His continued goodness to me.

The more I believe in His continued goodness to me,
The more hope I have.

The circumstances of our life are not always what we wish them to be.

Regardless of our circumstances, though, our lives can be all that we hope them to be…

Because God is good to us…

Because He loves us so much.

We only need the eyes of faith to see it.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

As we read of God's faithfulness in His Word, our faith in His goodness grows.

Just one more reason to read His Word!

Are you in "survival mode" today?

It seems we can often find ourselves there.

However, it is not a very good place for us to be – spiritually, emotionally or physically.

The physical reason for "survival mode" is times of great stress, famine or starvation. The body shuts down processes that are not essential for life: skin, hormones, hair, digestion, etc.

We find the same thing emotionally and spiritually.

When we are only surviving:

• we begin to cut ties to those to whom we are emotionally attached – usually family and close friends.
• Spiritually, we break off the most important habits of Bible reading and praying.

Our reasoning is this:

• those who really love us are "safe" to ignore. They will still be here when this crisis is over.
• Spiritually, we think we can get back to our Bible reading and prayer time when the stress has passed.

The truth is that we can survive a short while in this mode. Your body can shut down certain processes, you can ignore your loved ones and not pick up your Bible or spend time in prayer – for a little while.

If you spend too long in this place, however, you will begin to become unhealthy.

• Your body will break down,
• your family will begin to fall apart and
• you will grow cold, bitter and indifferent in your relationship to the Heavenly Father.

We are not meant to live perpetually in "survival mode".

I would recommend the first change to make in order to emerge from this state is to

You will find yourself seeking the emotional connection with others who love the Lord, and with those who are important to you. You will probably find that you begin to feel better physically as well.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10

The enemy of our soul strives to steal our life here; Christ gave His life to us that we might truly live a life of great joy and fulfillment.

There is great hope in escaping "survival mode" and entering into "thriving mode" through the power of the God of our salvation.

Awesome truths to hold onto every day…

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber not sleep.
Psalm 121:3-4

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
Jude 1:24

Then as if those truths aren't enough, the above verses are also full of other truths about the Lord:

• He saves us to the uttermost when we come to God through Jesus.
• He interceded for us constantly.
• He will not let our foot be moved.
• He keeps us.
• He keeps Israel.
• He presents us faultless before God.
• He has great joy in bringing us to God the Father.

Our God is so incredibly able to save us, keep us, and one day to catch us away to Heaven forever.

What do you have need of today?

He is more than able to meet your need!

Take the time to go to Him today with your burdens.

He's awake…

And listening for your cry!

If peace be in the heart,
The wildest winter storm is full of solemn beauty,
The midnight flash but shows the path of duty,
Each living creature tells some new and joyous story,
The very trees and stones all catch a ray of glory,
If peace be in the heart.
~Charles Francis Richardson

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:15-16

The ways to peace:

1. Allow yourself to be peaceful
2. Practice a "gratitude attitude"
3. Live your life with wisdom that you glean from the Word of God
4. Use spiritual music to lift your spirits

When peace rules our hearts, the enemy can't shake our hope!