Do I Extend Mercy To My Spouse?
When my spouse has hurt me, my feelings, or done something I don’t like, do I extend mercy? Or do I hold it over their head, make them pay until I feel like they are right with my standards? Do I love them the way Jesus does and forgive quickly? Am I showing them it’s ok to make a mistake? I want to treat my spouse the way I wish to be treated! Praying for wisdom, to love them, cherish them, and realize they are human and need to grow in areas just like I do. I also want them to show me mercy when I hurt them or do something wrong. So mercy is so important in marriage!
Clean Slate or Clean Page
Have you ever heard the saying, “you have a clean slate,” or, “you can start with a clean page?” These are ways of saying you can start a new chapter in your life, or starting over from this point on. Just like we want at times for others to give us a second, or another chance, to do well, we should extend to our spouse the same mercy we desire. We need to daily give our spouse mercy to know they can start over today and have our support. To give them our love without limitations!
Gods Mercy
God is so good to us!! He extends mercy to us daily! His word says His mercies are new every morning. Mercy is what God extends to us, not punishing us for our sins, or things we do wrong against Him, like we deserve. We are to die daily in prayer and fasting, (our flesh) but we will never be perfect, so we need His mercy. Grace from God is blessing us even though we don’t deserve it. Mercy is keeping us back from judgement, and grace is kindness we aren’t worthy of.
His Creation
God said all He made was good, but He wanted to share His creation with someone. He created mankind, and knew if He made us worship Him, we wouldn’t be able to love Him on our own. He wanted a relationship with us! So he made us in His image, but with the ability to sin, and to choose to love Him. That way we could choose Him if we wanted to, or we could choose to be without Him. Love isn’t love if we are made to do it. After the fall of man, we were separated from Him, because He is Holy, and we are fallible. I’m so thankful that He made a way for us to be saved, and that He daily extends His mercy.
What Our Children See
When we love each other, respect each other, and show mercy to one another, we are a great example to our children. They have an innate need to see love between you and your spouse! Whether it is a two parent family or a blended family, it is important for them to see the love between you! Sometimes things can be tense when children are around, because they live in a world where they are the center, so we have to be extra careful to example to them what they should do in marriage! Showing mercy!
Our Children
Our children need our mercy too! We need to extend mercy to our children when they mess up! When they are tired, say things they don’t mean, and sometimes just because you know your heavenly father gives you mercy, and you want them to trust God now, and when they grow up and need to turn to Him!! Our children need to know they don’t have to be perfect, that they too can make mistakes and are still loved. Then they in turn can show mercy to others.
Conclusion
Mercy is needed more than ever today, in a day of pitfalls, sin, everyone loving what is bad and hating what is good. Godly sorrow worketh repentance, and God’s rich mercy is extended to us for our salvation! We need His mercy and we need to give it liberally to others we love, and even those who don’t know God, so they may see Him! We are a light to those around us, our spouse, our children and the lost!
Scriptures
Monday: Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Praying as you memorize this scripture that you are slow to anger and plenteous in mercy with your spouse today!
Tuesday: Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Praying today for compassion to extend mercy to our spouse of a new start. To love them without limitations!
Wednesday: Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” As you learn this scripture today pray God would show you mercy! That it would be a daily prayer for your life.
Thursday: Matthew 9:13 says, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” We need to know what God expects of us, to read His word, and act upon it, so we can be saved.
Friday: Micah 7:18 says, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” When we are quick to forgive our spouse we show our children what mercy is and how it works!
Saturday: Psalm 25:6-7 says, “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.” Remembering today our youth and how we were shown mercy by God and extend it to our children!
Sunday: Psalm 51:1-2 says, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Oh how we need God’s mercy each day for salvation! God loves us!
Prayer
Our prayer today is that mercy would be a daily thought in our homes, marriages, families, and those we meet each day! That we would ask for mercy from God, and that we would extend it to everyone else! That’s God’s goodness to us, that holds back judgment, would be given to our spouse and see the blessing of it! We will see the God move in our lives, and the supernatural forgiveness that happens when we do!! In Jesus name Mercy is present and abundant in our lives!! Extending mercy to my spouse everyday and have a happilyevermarried!
Contact
Please feel free to contact us at janene@happilyevermarried.org or check out and share our other blog posts at http://happilyevermarried.org