Mercy is a given for the Christian. As people who were dead in sin and have now been shown mercy by God, we ought to do the same to others who do wrong against us. As we look at this idea, we will realize very quickly that as believers, who are representing Christ, we must be willing to show mercy as we have been!

Righteousness is not about being right in one's morals or beliefs. It is easy to think this way as we equate having truth with being righteous, but if this were the case, none would be righteous. As we explore this verse, we will discuss the true meaning of this verse and what righteousness as all about!

We often equate the idea of being meek with being weak. But how far from the truth this is! One who is meek doesn't necessarily lack strength, but rather contains it and does not act upon it. As we look at this verse, we will discover the proper way of looking at meekness, its importance, and ultimately why those who are will inherit the earth.

Blessing and mourning seem incompatible, perhaps even opposing one another. When approaching this scripture, many will ask: How can one be blessed when overcome with grief? Shouldn't one, who is blessed, feel good or even happy? As we look at this verse, we will see that we may have the wrong perspective and that ultimately, one can be blessed while mourning as there is something greater than our pain.

Christ, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, speaks the Beatitudes which are values of life that mark the hearts of believers. Right out of the gate, Jesus flips expectations and says that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", so the question is: What and why is this something to be had? The truth is... God is calling us into a new perspective where we recognize our spiritual poverty and, in turn, realize we need him more than ever.

Prayer can be something that Christians push off to the side in their walk. They may give various excuses to why they don't take the time; but nonetheless, prayer is essential given that it honors the Lord, postures the heart, and places our focus on others.

In this life, we will become caught up in so many different things to a point that we will stop focusing on God. But as Christians, this cannot be the case given who he is and what he has done! He is our salvation. He is our strength. He is our song.

As people, we can be very gullible and easily manipulated. We are surrounded with things that seek to take our attention and get us to invest our time, effort, and money into them; which we fall for more often than we are willing to admit. But God calls us to be different. He calls us to be... prudent.

Despite being immersed in a culture that worships love, many people still search for its true meaning; often believing it be nothing more than a feeling. This however is not the case as Christians! Love is not just a feeling but a lifestyle that reflects the character of Christ. It is not a commodity to be consumed, but rather a way of life that proceeds forward in the face of adversity, placing others before oneself and supporting them through it all.

Burnout is a new epidemic in the world. No matter who you are or how long you've lived, you have most likely dealt with it and have seen the consequences that followed: lack of productivity or energy, less tolerance, less motivation, etc. So more than ever, we must learn how to start taking the steps towards recovery! It is far too great an obstacle to leave out of mind and is something rather we should be striving to resolve and prepare for. So slow down, breathe, and take on burnout!