⁸ He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Micah 6:8 King James Version

Father God, Lord of Mercy, be with your children as we prepare for Lent. Help us to focus on YOU and understand you on a deeper level through our prayers, fasting, and study. Open our eyes, open our hearts, and open our minds as we grow closer to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What does the Lord require of us daily? Our reading in Micah lays this out quite clearly. First, we are required to do justly. Justly is an adverb defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “in a way that most people consider to be morally fair and reasonable.” As the Lord requires, we must follow His Commandments and apply them to others just as we expect them to apply them to us. Live a life that is above reproach and allow the Lord to work through us.

Second, we are required to love mercy. As with living a just life, we must also have mercy. Our LORD God is a merciful god as He loves us even when we are most undeserving. HIS mercy for us if far beyond our mortal comprehension. However, if we strive to have mercy in our lives upon people in our lives who have been dealt a bad hand or have wronged us in a way that we are able to forgive, then we can follow the example set by God.

Finally, we are required to walk humbly with the Lord. To be humble is not a sign of weakness. Quite the contrary. It is a sign of great strength to be able to swallow your pride, give glory to the Lord, and give thanks to Him for the talents bestowed upon you. Let your ACTIONS speak much louder than your words, and do not perform acts for accolade or praise. Let the Lord work through you daily and accept His blessings as you allow Him to bless others through your work.

Joshua 1:9 reads, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” As we prepare for Lent, brothers and sisters, do what is required of you, and do it with great courage. This is what is required.

God Bless you all!