Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.
Habit formation is the psychological and neurological process by which behaviors become habits through repetition. To praise the Lord seven times a day, like the Psalmist, requires discipline and time management. Take 7 praise-breaks – 8am, 10am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. Intentionally develop the habit of praising the Lord 7 times a day.
At 8am, praise the Lord for His incomprehensible “love”, at 10am praise God for His incredible “grace” and at 12 noon praise Him for His unfathomable “Mercy”. While the grace of God bestows on us the blessings that we don’t deserve, the mercy of God is not getting what we do deserve. It is the mercy of God that protects us from being condemned with the punishment or judgment we actually deserve for our shortcomings, sins and slackness. Mercy spares us from the consequences of our repeated transgression and stubborn iniquities as Jesus stepped in our place to be condemned and punished for our wrongdoings.
The truth about mercy is unconceivable by a normal human brain. Mercy is often constructed as injustice as the offender is released from their mistakes that they have repented for. The elder brother of the prodigal son did not understand the mercy that was lavished on his younger brother who swindled the wealth of the father in wild and wayward living. He wanted to see his brother reprimanded, shamed and punished. However, our merciful Father says, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
Take few seconds at 12 noon to meditate on the mercy of God that triumphs over the judgement that was due to us. It is the mercy of God that turns a prostitute into a preacher, a murderer into a missionary and a deceiver into a deacon.
Eight-2-Eight Praise-Breaks:
- Multiply: The more we show mercy the more it multiplies. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
- Meditate: Meditating on the mercy of God will silence the accusing voices of condemnation.
- Merit: Mercy protects us – not our merits, worthiness or skills. Mercy keeps us humble.
Start the 7-times praise-break discipline from 8am-8pm.
Prayer: Father God, I will discipline myself to praise you 7 times every day. Thank you for your unfathomable mercy. Amen.
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