Leaving a Trail of Mercy
Wednesday, October 1
Leaving a Trail of Mercy
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6
We know that God’s goodness and mercy are found along the path that leads us home to Him. But in the same breath, while we are still here, we are called to leave a trail of that same goodness and mercy behind us each day. Practically, this might look like showing more patience in the checkout line or during school pickup. It may look like pausing before speaking in a moment of frustration, or choosing to season our words with grace, encouraging others to live with eternity in mind, both in the big moments and the small.
So ask yourself today ‘What kind of daily trail are we leaving behind?’ Are we butting heads with others, or are we spurring them on toward Christ’s love? Because God’s mercies never come to an end, we can follow our Shepherd with confidence. And as we do, we are called to encourage one another in this race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1), and to reflect His mercy in how we live, love, and lead.
We live in the tension of the present moment and the promise of what’s to come. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:13–14: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
So today, pause and consider:
Do I leave behind peace or turmoil?
Do I leave behind forgiveness or bitterness?
Do I leave behind contentment or conflict?
Do I leave behind joy or frustration?
Prayer for today: Father, thank You for Your never-ending goodness and mercy that follow me all the days of my life. Help me to walk so closely with You that I leave a trail of Your grace behind me, one marked by peace, forgiveness, contentment, and joy. Teach me to reflect Your heart in both quiet moments and busy ones. May my life encourage others to look up and press on toward You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.