MERCY

God's mercy moved Him to bring us to Himself. If we are merciful,
we will be brought to Him and will be like Him. Without mercy, any
religious act or Christian work is useless. Without mercy, it is only
an empty act. God desires us to be merciful above all else.

Read Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God
rather than burnt offerings." (NIV)

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God
more than burnt offerings." (KJV)

RIGHT MOTIVES IN PRAYER

Prayer is a precious gift from God where we can communicate with Him
freely and openly. Some use prayer as an opportunity to tell God what they think He should do. When God does not answer, they become angry with God and complain that He does not really care. Really consider what you pray. Search your heart and mind for your real motive. Your true motives will determine if God listens to your prayer.

Read James 4:3

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (NIV)

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts." (KJV)

LIVE FOR HIS RETURN

It is in our own control to keep our minds ready to meet with whatever
this world brings our way. What we do now should be with the future of
Christ's return in mind. Hold on to the promise of God's grace no matter
what happens in your life now. His promise is sure. Trust Him and you
will not be disappointed.

Read 1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your
hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."
(NIV)

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (KJV)

HOW STRONG IS YOUR FAITH?

Is our commitment to the Lord God such that we can be stripped
of every good thing, be abandoned by all, and be passing through
the threshold of death, yet still fully trust that He is faithful and
just, worthy of all honor and praise? This is true faith. Oh, that He
would find this faith in us!

Read Job 13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my
ways to His face." (NIV)

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine
own ways before him." (KJV)

CASTING YOUR CARES

We can literally throw our worries and concerns on the Lord with
full confidence that He will protect us so that we do not fall under
the pressure of them. He is ever faithful to those who have a heart
of obedience and desire to please Him. As long as we live in this
world, it is unlikely we will be free of trials and sufferings, but we
have total access to be free of the worry and concern that accompany
them.

Read Psalm 55:22

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never
let the righteous fall." (NIV)

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall
never suffer the righteous to be moved." (KJV)

TRUE RELIGION

The original Latin meaning of the word religion is to tie, fasten, or bind,
like a ligament functions in the muscle structure of the human body. When our religion consists of being tied to tradition and rituals, it makes us rigid and susceptible to breaking apart. When the effect of our religion is mercy and giving to the needs of others, we become a living tie between the flowing, living love of the Lord and others around us. Being tied (bound) to the Lord is our choice. It is a choice that gives us the power to stay spiritually free from worldly ways. That is true religion.

Read James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (NIV)

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (KJV)

CONSIDER HIM

We are certainly living in difficult times. Often we get our eyes
off the eternal realm and on the earthly things that are going on
around us. Most of us are struggling with the trials and tribulations
common to humanity. Just stop for a moment and consider what
our Lord endured as He walked this earth. He suffered to the point
of death for being righteous and showing us the Father. If we keep
this in mind, it will help us keep the right perspective and remember
that we have not been required to suffer as He did.

Read Hebrews 12:3

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)

"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (KJV)