“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

Christianity has always been under hostility.  True faith is often hammered.  Whether it is the pretentious who want you to practice as they do, having no grace or mercy, or the ones who outright hate God, there is a constant battle in this world.  Fight the good fight.  The kingdom of heaven is at hand, and it belongs to those who walk with Jesus here, now, and forever.  Walk knowing that you are in God’s kingdom.

Lord, there is the kingdom of this world and Your kingdom which is forever.  I live in both.  Help me to learn how to navigate so that I do not err on the side of the earth, nor become so focused upon my faith for the sake of heaven that I am useless here.  You have freed me from those things which bind me to the mortality of this earth, but also, I need to grow in Your likeness to prepare for heaven.

Dear Jesus, You have set these things in motion, and concern for this world often overwhelms me.  Lead me. Lord. in the way of faith so that I may be guarded by Your goodness as I navigate my way (with Your help) in this world.  Aid me to know that in You I have eternal hope and a future.  You have called me, and in You I have the precious promise of salvation.  I will encounter adversity and even persecution for my faith.  Help me to stand firm and remain faithful to You.  Amen.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

For those who follow the way of the world, there is hatred.  Those who follow the way of the Lord learn how to love.  The only way to love is to learn how to make peace with those who hate.  Sometimes it may not happen, but you are to live trying for peace.  The peacemakers are living in a way that they do not encourage or foster the constant warfare of this age.  This differentiation is what Christ has accomplished for us from the cross.

Lord, this is a part of the cross I must bear.  I must first tolerate and then learn how to love those who hate me.  When they hate me, they are hating You.  Teach me how to make peace with my enemies.  Teach me how to love as You love.  Teach me so that I may become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be blessed in all I do.

Lord Jesus, in Your ministry, You were always truthful, but You never hated.  You love those whom You have created, even those who will eternally be separated from You.  Lead me in the way of love, Lord, so that I may learn to act as You acted with those around You.  Guide me today to do those things which make for peace in this world of hostility.  Help me always to stay on the narrow way of salvation.  Amen.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

There are those in whom there is no guile.  I confess that I am unable to understand how one can be without guile, but wouldn’t it be wonderful and lovely.  They are blessed, for they know that all that Lord has planned is true and live in simple faith knowing that it shall come to pass according to the Lord’s will.  The pure in heart, those without guile or deception, are blessed, for they know the Lord God as the One who is truly the center of all things.

Once again Lord, this is not a matter of my striving to gain something, but the shedding of all the illusions of this age which make me think I have power over anything.  Lead me according to Your goodness to come to the place where guile, a lack of mercy, and the desire for recompense for wrongs are removed from me.  Lead me in Your goodness to see others as precious in Your sight.

My Lord and Savior, You know those places in my heart where I am blind and cannot see.  Cleanse me through repentance and forgiveness to come to the place where I live a life that desires goodness for all others.  Help me to know that in You there is hope.  Through the eyes of faith and with a pure heart, let me see You today working in me so that the Father’s will is done.  Amen.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Give to others even when they do not deserve what you give.  Do not seek retribution but seek to live under the natural law of reciprocity.  The merciful do not live with an eye-for-eye or tooth-for tooth mentality, as others may do, but they seek the good of all those who are around them.  Give unto others what you desire for yourself and learn how to love as the Lord loves.  Give mercy and you will receive mercy from our good and gracious Savior.

Lord, this is not some kind of economic bargain, but simply what it looks like, to live into the life You give by grace.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may learn how to be merciful to others recognizing that, like me, they too need all the help they can get to move away from the life of the old Adam and into the new life which You offer by grace.  You have come to lead me into this new life.

Thank Youm Lord Jesus, for the hope You give.  You know how much mercy I need.  You know the places where I have gone astray and where I have needed You to rescue me.  Amidst all of the struggles in my life, living in this world, guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to learn how to be kind and merciful to all whom I meet.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy always.  Amen.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).

There are many things that are decent and good, but reasonable people know that there are many things that are not.  There are those who, gifted by awakening of the Holy Spirit, desire righteousness, who pine for goodness and decency to be what guides our land and are satisfied by the Good News of Christ.  This world may not yet be corrected, but the Holy Spirit is satisfying the faithful who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Lord, for me to be satisfied, I need not see what You have promised become reality, but by faith, I know it will come and that gives me peace.  You have told us the things which shall happen before the end comes, and You speak truth.  In the hunger for righteousness in this world, let it begin with me seeking the new life You have given me.  Let my hunger be satisfied by Your word.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken; your words fill my longing for righteousness, and I am satisfied.  You have told me to seek first Your righteousness and then all else that is needed shall be added.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go so that I may live into this life You have given me, not in desperation, as do those around me who have no hope, but in satisfaction knowing that the Father’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

“Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

What nobility is supposed to be is gentle. The gentle man was supposed to be the one who had been given much and used his gifts for the sake of the community.  The gentle are they who use their faith to help others.  This is not about gaining worldly wealth, but about being a steward of all that the Lord has given you and using it for His kingdom.  The Lord desires all to possess the true riches of His kingdom.

Lord, I live in a greedy age where people scramble to get on top of each other, seeking to gain as much for themselves as possible.  You have already promised the new earth for those who are gentle.  Not with greed, but in sincerity and truth, lead me to be gentle with others for Your sake.  Whatever that truly means, lead me in this day to see through the cloud of  sin in me to come into the clear place of faith and the shining truths You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You have purpose for every word You have spoken.  You did not come to just lift us up, brush us off and send us on our way.  You came that we might have true life through You, The One through whom all things have their being.  Guide me, my Savior, to walk humbly with You, and teach me what it means to be gentle.  Lead me in Your goodness and purpose that I may know that I am Your gentle servant.  Amen

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Over and beyond those who are suffering loss, how many mourn over the state of this world?  Too many eat, drink, and make merry thinking this world is just fine the way it is.  It is not.  Sin, death, and the devil cause great pain and suffering.  Do you mourn the state of the world?  The comfort of the Lord is not some salve, but the hope we all have that because He lives, we too shall live.

Lord, You have conquered sin, death, and the devil.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You I do have hope and a future.  You have called me out of the world to be a part of Your kingdom.  Even though I still have one foot in this world, I yet have hope in the resurrection.  Help me to understand this paradox so that I may humbly walk with You, my God and Maker.

Lord Jesus, You spoke words that call each of us to mourn the loss of eternal life for every soul who rejects the faith.  You Have called us beyond ourselves to have concern for the state of the world.  Lead me this day to lament this world, but also to rejoice in the salvation which is mine in You.  Let the comfort I receive be that which You give, enabling me this day to live in the true hope of salvation.  Amen.

“And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2-3).

Those who know they are in need are the ones who will seek to fill the need.  Those who do not think they have all they need are open to receiving what is needed.  We are all poor and we all need the Holy Spirit.  Those who know this and receive the Holy Spirit are a part of the kingdom of heaven.  The state of the sinful heart must change, and Jesus has come to give us a new, clean hearts.

Jesus, You said that You would make all things new.  Begin amidst the poverty of my condition to create in me a new and clean heart.  I need Your Holy Spirit to keep me from polluting this heart.  You have called me into the kingdom of heaven, and You know what is needed to prepare me to dwell there with You.  On my own I am poor but in You I am rich.  On my own I am a bundle of selfish nerves, but in and by Your Spirit, I have received the power to become a child of God.

Lord Jesus, I need Your salvation.  Take away from me any spirit which thinks I do not need today what You came to give me.  I need the Holy Spirit by which I have been sealed as Yours forever, Lord.  Bring me to the place where I am humble and willing to live in the truth that I am dependent upon You, the author and finisher of my faith, to do all that is needed this day to walk as a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen.

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him” (Matthew 5:1).

Please note how practical Jesus is.  The crowds have come, so He goes up the hill and has the people set down in a natural amphitheater.  He can then speak to the thousands who are gathered.  Our Lord always knows what He is doing.  Who knows whether He created the place to be as it was for just this purpose?  Jesus will do all that is needed to complete our faith.  You have His word on that.

What an amazing thing it would be to see Jesus.  At every turn, He took advantage of the opportunity to share with others the gift of the Good News of the freedom which He came to give to all who believe.  Help us to walk in that Good News and share with others what has been shared through the Gospels.  Help us take advantage of every situation that Your witness may be heard in a world that is crazy, going everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

Lead me Savior in the way You would have me go.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You there is always hope.  All the days ahead of me are in Your hands.  Therefore, lead me today so that I may do those things which will make tomorrow a good day in Your sight.  Help me to find those places where I can speak to the concerns which are all around me.  Guide me in Your goodness Lord now and forever.  Amen.

“And the news about Him spread throughout Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan” (Matthew 4:24-25).

The world has always been filled with many who are in need.  The Lord went about healing.  He still does, but we often give Him no credit when He does heal.  Always keep in mind that this life is temporary but the life to come is forever.  Yes, live today, but also keep in mind tomorrow.  Know that the Gospel is not just for our community, but for the whole world.  That is why the Syrians came to Jesus.

Lord, I often keep a simple picture in my mind of how things were.  Life is always a bit more complex than I think.  Guide me to look more carefully at the world where I am so that, with sensitivity, I may minister to those around me.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to see that in You is my hope for the life to come.  Lead me also to be faithful in this life that You have given me here and now.

My Savior, You know what I need today.  Your Holy Spirit will speak to me, and my experience and thoughts will answer.  Lead me to listen to the Holy Spirit so that I may practice the obedience of faith in the struggles I have in this life.  I can do all things necessary if You lead me.  No matter what You ask me to do, help me to listen and obey as You direct me.  Aid me to reach out to others with the Good News of Your salvation.  Amen.