Power Up Your SPIRIT
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 5:7 NKJV
I had a car accident that could have led to dire consequences. But it didn’t.
What happened?
I noticed weeks before the accident that my handbrake was faulty and delayed getting it fixed.
The week before the accident, I went to get it fixed, but the mechanic did a bad job. I was supposed to return it earlier, but I was too angry to do it.
The day before the accident, I noticed that my brakes malfunctioned and knew I needed to go back.
On the day of the accident, while driving down a hill, heading to the auto repair shop, the brakes failed. With no handbrake as backup, I crashed into the car in front of me so loudly, everyone around shouted.
My only punishment was I had to fix the victim’s car and mine, which now had a disfigured side.
I count this as mercy because…
- No one crossed the road at that time. The story would have been different if I hit a human.
- The damage was minor because the car I hit was stronger than mine
- No one died.
Mercy means not getting what you deserve. Sometimes bad things happen due to negligence, poor character, hard-heartedness, or ignorance.
But when they happen, and we don’t face the music as we ought to, that’s mercy.
Here’s a mercy mentality that we need to have:
We show mercy to others, not because we want it in return but because we have been shown mercy.
We experience God’s mercy every day. This is enough reason to be merciful to those around us.
And you’ll see that the mercy cycle always goes round.
Hack Your BODY
How can we show mercy to those at work who do wrong?
Mercy is born from the foundation of love. If you have love for others in your heart, it becomes easier to show mercy.
But it’s not straightforward because our human hearts get in the way and all we want is payback.
So, what do we do?
Use the Substitution Method.
This sounds like a math formula (it is), but its origin is as old as time.
Let me explain…
When someone does something to you that requires punishment, but you know mercy should prevail, ask yourself this question:
“If I were in this person’s shoes, how would I want to be treated?”
That’s the simple method.
Even if the person:
- Undermined your authority as a leader,
- Went behind you to take a benefit meant for you, or
- Destroyed something you cared about
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you use this method.
Christ took our place on the cross. He suffered what we should have suffered.
Now, to show mercy, we take the place of the person to be punished and give that person what we would like to receive.
This doesn’t mean punishments will never happen. Sometimes they’re necessary so we learn life lessons. But they will not be as intense and shameful as they should have been.
So, the next time someone wrongs you, use the substitution method. You’ll feel good about yourself afterwards.
Grow Your SOUL
“One person whom I need to reach out to, or care for on this day is…”
(source: GrowthDay)
Is there someone who needs this mercy today? Is someone going through something that could have been avoided?
You can give that person a unique experience by giving them a hand. It doesn’t have to be someone who has wronged you. Just give the person something good to remember today.
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