This verse has been on my mind of late, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you?  But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

Sometimes I put so many personal requirements on my life. Requirements motivated by perfectionism that are self-imposed requirements that stem from other people’s expectations of me…requirements that I think God may desire. But I love this scripture that brings a refreshing simplicity into my relationship with God.

God shows me what is good

Psalms 31:19 says, that God has stored up good things for me as I fear Him. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” What a comfort to know that He not only shows me what is good but he does not withhold good from me.

God shows me what is required of me

I love this verse from Acts 2, “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”  He wants to show us what is required of us and the paths for us to walk in.

What is required: Do Justly

Do justice! I like justice defined as “taking up the cause for restoration of every violation of Love. Taking the wrong and making it right.”

What is required: Love Mercy

Ephesians 2:4 says that God is rich in mercy. How wonderful that the God of the universe lives inside of me, so I too can be “rich” in mercy, showing compassion, kindness and forgiveness readily. I can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence and receive His mercy.

What is required: Walk Humbly with your God

An invitation to walk with God free from haughtiness, arrogance or assertive behavior. A yielded, submission to His Lordship in our lives. And again in Psalms 25:9 we find another promise of God guiding (the humble) us in what is right and teaching us His ways. Psalm 149:4 says, that the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory. How beautiful the picture of a submissive, yieldedness to God that produces victory!  Often in our culture, we think of victory as an assertive and extroverted act, but the scripture is saying that humility is the path to victory.

Today, I am doing a little personal inventory on the “requirements” of the Lord and I invite you to do the same. I welcome you to pray this prayer with me . . . “God, I thank you that you have shown me what is good. I ask that you increase the fear of the Lord in my life to live blamelessly before you and walk in the good things you have stored up for me. Thank you that you show me what you require of me by making known to me paths of life.  Today, may I take every wrong that comes my way and turn it towards your righteousness. May I release your justice into every violation of love that is revealed to me. I approach your throne of grace with confidence and receive the mercy that you have for me to be rich in. Help me to love mercy. May goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life and may I dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I yield myself and submit to your Lordship. Thank you, God, that you always lead me in victorious triumph in Christ! This day and forever, may I do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you God!”

Written by: Nita Weldon
Published on: 6/5/18