Revenge only looks sweet, in reality it’s bitter. That’s why Paul writes: ‘Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God.’ (Rom.12:19 NLT). In today’s promise we find out a little bit more about life the Jesus way, so let’s expand this a bit more: 

1) Mercy doesn’t always have to be ‘right.’ 

Is whatever you’re in a flap about so important that you must go to extremes to prove others wrong and yourself right? Why bother? You’ll just end up on the merry-go-round of resentment and neither you nor whoever you’re arguing with will be able to get off. Mercy breaks the cycle – it’s a life-giving force ‘…God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…’ (Ephesians 2:4-5) 

2) Mercy dissolves anger. 

Like all roots, the root of someone’s anger is hidden under the surface. That is, until they trap their finger or stub their toe! When you see really exaggerated anger it’s likely that something deeper’s at work. Ask God to show you a creative way to show mercy and dissolve that anger. 

3) Mercy heals. 

By forgiving your sins God’s already shown you mercy – and you’ve seen its healing effect in your life. So share it out, especially to the people you’re busy working out how you’ll get even with. You need to set an example here – whole nations in our world are sick because of the cycle of revenge, will you start to bring healing today by showing mercy?

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD , "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

LORD , you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD , who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,  with eternal pleasures at your right hand. "

(Many of the reflections on each page are used with the kind permission of United Christian Broadcastors (UCB) from their FREE daily devotional - The Word for Today. They allow the publication of 52 of their passages per year and I find their messages apt and though-provoking for the times we live in.)

A Circle of Prayer around the world praying for and with each other, for peace and for a world in crisis. Please read more about it and perhaps join us, prayer was never more needed than it is in these times!

Praying all year round for the souls of our deceased relatives and friends, for the souls of those most in need of prayer and for those souls in purgatory who have nobody to pray for them.