A few thoughts: WHAT WE need to do to turn our country around–by turning our own lives around. We’re in this together, and we must do the right thing.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

If there is no repentance, it’s hard to find second chances. If there is no mercy, kindness lacks the ability to affect positive change. If there is no humility, the thing morphs into prideful acts. If there is no hatred of evil, then evil proliferates unchecked. If there is no speaking the truth, there is no knowledge of God’s redeeming love.

5 things we need to do–

Repent–

• of our arrogance–seeing ourselves as better than others.
• of our sins–not excusing our wrong attitudes, wrong behaviors, and wrong-minded speech
• of our pride-in self, our acquisitions, and our successes. Everything we have is from the Lord
• of our lack of love toward our neighbor, and our inactivity–in not helping them

Love Mercy–

• extend mercy to those less fortunate than ourselves
• see people with merciful eyes–see their neediness instead of their failures
• pray mercy for others, divine mercy–that God will transform their lives and renew their souls
• offer compassion with grace, in God’s love. God’s love flows through you to the world
• be mercy to others–this will make a difference in your daily interactions

Walk Humbly–

• with your God
• with your fellow man, woman and child
• in grace to others
• and eschew self-adoration–being caught up with self–seen in self-pity, self-focus, and a preoccupation with self and family. Give God preeminence in your life. Let God redeem your life and the life of others.

Hate Evil–

• hate sin and excuses for sinning (the devil made me do it!)
• hate idol worship–anything you revere more highly than God
• hate that which offends a righteous God
• hate unrighteous acts–that are deceptive, misleading, that destroy human life, that are falsities, immoral, harm others, that are deceitful, promote wrong-doing or lusts

Speak Truth

• by loving God, His Word, and obeying Him and His Word
• by remaining true to the Word of God
• -by sharing His gospel of truth and life-through loving others–in word, thought, charity, and deed

God has given us the tools to live life redemptively. A dead seed is planted in rich soil. A flower grows, and it makes us smile. A smile transforms a face, and it blesses others. Blessings in lives are thanks turned upward. Thanks turned upward behold the mystery of God.

Live Redemptively

America needs YOU.

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Photo by Bermix Studio, Unsplash