That was Brother Jason in another one of our sacred conversations yesterday. I love hearing his perspective, even when we disagree with each other, like we did yesterday. It’s really great hearing all the different voices, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE MUST KNOW GOD’S VOICE.
Like Jason felt I should not have sent this text to my brother Ceri:
“You liked my mercy video and God put you on my heart to say thank you. You actually were the person who taught me this and because of that I’m here celebrating with hubby and the sons. I’m so grateful to you. You were a positive part of my journey and I will do my best to keep sharing everything you taught me with the world. I honor that time with you and the group.”
J and I ended up discussing mercy which is such a great principle from God to live. I said to J, like Ceri taught me, every day I wake up, the same mercy I receive from God, I now must extend that same mercy to others and that’s what has gotten me here right now celebrating with the hubby and sons today, praising and thanking God. I felt I needed to honor Ceri and the group for that and all the other Godly principles and values I learnt in the 4 years of being with them.
Can you believe God got in on our conversation today about mercy? I asked Meta AI for a page to go to on our family’s website and it picked out of 174 pages, 112 that had this to say:
Another EMBARRASSING AND HURTFUL experience happened some weeks ago when I showed up at an office barbecue. At a certain point, my heart fell to the floor. But again, God used this as an opportunity to replace my heart with a stronger, tougher and a MORE LOVING AND FORGIVING ONE. This HUMILIATION taught me about loving others God’s way.
His love is unfailing and constant. No matter how many times I mess up, God seems to say, ‘It’s cool, let’s begin again. No matter how many times you mess up, you can begin again. I’m with you and for you!’ I loved this message in an appointment with Him one day: “WHEN YOU TRY TO SPEAK TO ME OF THE PAST, I’LL PLACE MY HAND OVER YOUR MOUTH AND YOU WILL HEAR WORDS OF TENDERNESS AND MERCY THAT WILL MELT YOUR HEART.” – HE AND I
AND THAT’S THE KIND OF LOVE HE IS TEACHING ME TO SHOW OTHERS. THAT NO MATTER THE PAST WE CAN SHOW THEM GOD’S KIND OF LOVE AND MERCY: “When you learn how to sit at the table with your Judas (someone who has betrayed you), you’ll understand the love of Jesus Christ (God).” – Unknown
So, an extremely dark moment was God’s way of bringing lots of LIGHT and LOVE into my heart for EVERYONE. Nobody’s perfect. But the way I’ve found to get closer to God is through LOVING others MORE.
GOD WHISPER: “Nik, you did hear Me. When you sent mercy, that was ME moving through you. Don’t turn your hearing aid down to make others comfortable.”
GOD WHISPER: “Nik, that office barbecue where your heart fell? I didn’t waste it. I replaced your heart. A tougher heart that can still stay loving. That’s discernment. That’s hearing Me.”
Like Ceri brilliantly taught me, LOVE MUST BE THE BOTTOMLINE FOR OUR LIVES. This is honestly my strategy for living my best life with God- LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS. When hubby asked me to pray for us today, I said, “Hon, all I’m doing today is thanking God. That’s it.” Thanks again J for the awesome conversation, I will continue to listen to God and navigate life with DISCERNMENT (God’s voice and direction!) because it’s working for me.
STEP 2: WHAT I’M TEACHING YOU & HOW TO LIVE IT TODAY — FOR MEN & WOMEN
If Brother J told me “I don’t think you’re hearing from God,” and you have ever been told the same — this is for you.
1. HEARING FROM GOD IS A SKILL — IT’S CALLED DISCERNMENT
What I learned: That moment when your heart falls to the floor at a party? That’s not anxiety. That’s discernment. God showing you what’s really happening. Page 112 says God used my humiliation to give me a stronger, tougher, MORE loving heart.
How to live it:
– For everyone: Before you react, pause. Ask: “God, is this You warning me, or is this my old wound?”
– For men: You strategize at work all day. Do the same in your spirit. My brother Kevin said: “You are in a war. Any problem is a war. You need to strategize.” Your run, your drive, your gym time — make it your war room.
– For women: Your sensitivity is not weakness. It’s your hearing aid. Stop apologizing for feeling things deeply.
2. MERCY IS A DAILY TRANSACTION
What I learned: Every morning God gives me fresh mercy: “It’s cool, let’s begin again.” So I must give that same mercy away that day.
How to live it:
– Morning: Say out loud: “I receive mercy today. I will release mercy today.”
– Action: Send one “mercy text” this week. “You taught me ____. I honor that time. Thank you.” You don’t do it to get them back. You do it so YOU get free.
3. THE PERSON IS NOT THE PROBLEM — THE THING ON THEM IS
What I learned: Satanic forces are real, but they sit UPON people, they are not the person.
How to live it:
– Reframe it: Instead of “He/she is so toxic,” say “There’s something heavy sitting UPON them right now.”
– For marriages: Your husband/wife is not your enemy. The exhaustion, addiction, bitterness sitting on them is.
– For everyone: You can sit at the table with someone who hurt you and still have peace — when you know who the real enemy is.
4. EXPOSE IT TO LIGHT — DON’T HIDE IN SHAME
What I learned: I used to hide my falls with eating, drinking, numbing. Now I live life like a movie. God will place His hand over your mouth when you try to talk about the past, and give you tenderness and mercy instead.
How to live it:
– Stop hiding: Your embarrassing barbecue moment is your next sermon.
– The 47 Trees Practice: Find 2 things you can touch — a tree, your kitchen counter, your steering wheel — put both palms on it and say: “God, we’re together. We’re together. We’re together.”
– The God Pick: Ask God to pick a page, a number, a scripture. Out of 174 pages, He picked 112 for me. He will speak to you too.
5. LOVE IS THE BOTTOMLINE STRATEGY
What I learned: Love must be the bottomline. Not being right. Not winning the argument.
How to live it:
– The Only Prayer: Some days just say: “Hon, all I’m doing today is thanking God.” Thanking IS praying.
– Daily Roll Call: Pick ONE and roll with it today: LOVE, KINDNESS, JOY, PEACE, STRENGTH, FAITH, HOPE, COURAGE, COMPASSION, MERCY, HUMILITY. Today I pick MERCY.
5 VERSES THAT CAPTURE THIS WHOLE BLOG
1. John 10:27 — “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Why I chose it: If you are His sheep, you ARE hearing. Discernment is your birthright.
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 — “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Why I chose it: This is the mercy transaction! Same mercy I receive is the same mercy I must release.
3. Ezekiel 36:26 — “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Why I chose it: This is Page 112! At the barbecue when my heart fell, God REPLACED it with a stronger, tougher, MORE loving one.
4. Ephesians 6:12 — “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of evil.”
Why I chose it: The fortress is UPON them, not IN them. That’s why I can love my Judas and still hate what was sitting on them.
5. 1 John 4:7,11-12 — “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God… if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another… if we love one another, God abides in us.”
Why I chose it: Love must be the bottomline. That’s how you get closer to God — by loving others MORE.
MIGHTY CLOSE-OUT PRAYER
Father God, Big Hand,
Thank You for being my Life Partner. Thank You for fresh mercy this morning that says “It’s cool, let’s begin again.”
Today I put both palms on my altar and say: GOD, WE’RE TOGETHER! WE’RE TOGETHER! WE’RE TOGETHER! I am not alone.
Give me ears to hear Your voice above every other voice — even the voices of people I love who disagree with me. When my heart falls to the floor, replace it. Make it tougher but still loving.
Teach me to release the same mercy I receive. Today I choose to honor those who taught me, to sit at the table with my Judas, and to love Your way.
I see now — the person is not my enemy. The fortress UPON them is. So I will not repay evil with evil. I will shine bright for You.
And God, for the man or woman reading this who thinks “I’m not hearing from God” — place Your hand over their mouth when they speak shame over their past, and let them hear Your tenderness and mercy that melts their heart.
Today all I do is thank You. That’s it.
I roll with You. I roll with love, kindness, joy, peace, strength, faith, hope, courage, compassion, mercy and humility.
In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen and Heehaw!
WE ROLL WITH GOD…WE ROLL WITH LOVE, KINDNESS, JOY, PEACE, STRENGTH, FAITH, HOPE, COURAGE, COMPASSION, MERCY AND HUMILITY
GODisreallyREAL
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