"So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." -Matthew 5:23-26

Relationships are of the highest priority to God. Is there someone you need to reconcile with? What has pride or fear kept you from addressing? Ask the Lord for courage to take the first step. How might doing what you can to restore peace with others open new depths in your worship and intimacy with God?

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire."
-Matthew 5:21-22

Anger often signals deeper hurt or unmet desires. What anger are you carrying—toward others, yourself, or even God? Honestly lay it before Him without holding back. Ask for healing beneath the surface, inviting God’s Spirit and peace into those raw places. Even if you do not understand why you are angry, He does. Ask Him for help, healing, and direction. Ask God to teach you how to respond to conflict with grace rather than hostility.

 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus fulfills the heart behind every command: love. Thank Him now for how His obedience opened the way for your freedom. Ask the Lord to show you areas where you resist His instructions, seeing them as burdens rather than gifts. Ask for a softened heart, willing to trust that His ways lead to life and flourishing.

How might living out God’s Word reshape and bring more fullness to your relationships and daily choices?

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

-Matthew 5:14-16

Light exposes darkness and guides the way. Where has fear or discouragement dimmed your willingness to allow God’s light to shine through you?

Bring your hesitations to God in prayer. Ask Him to remind you of the unique ways has He equipped you to reflect His love to those around you. Pray for courage to let your life radiate His goodness and love today.

Who might need the Light you carry?

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot." -Matthew 5:13

Salt preserves, heals, enhances flavor, and adds value. How is your life adding goodness to the spaces you inhabit? Reflect on whether your presence brings kindness, truth, and integrity. Are there areas where you’ve lost your "saltiness"—your distinctiveness as a follower of Christ?

Ask God to restore vibrancy to your faith, making you a source of preservation, blessing, and goodness in your community.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." -Matthew 5:10-12

Following Christ often means facing misunderstanding, resistance, or rejection. When have you felt the weight of these things when standing for what’s right according to Jesus? Recall those moments before the Lord in prayer and thank Him for His faithfulness.

Ask for perseverance and a heart that rejoices in being counted among His followers, even when it costs you something. Ask for grace to respond to opposition with unwavering love and steadfast faith.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." -Matthew 5:9

Peacemaking requires courage to build relational bridges and gentleness to heal wounds.

Where is God calling you to bring peace? It may be in a strained relationship, an anxious environment, or even within your own heart.

Pray for wisdom and boldness to step into that space from the overflow of His reconciling love within you.

How can you sow peace where there has been tension or silence creating division and the absence of peace?

Pray for God to reveal to you how you can be one who works for peace in a specific relationship. Expect God to empower you in that purpose.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." -Matthew 5:8

Purity isn’t just about actions—it is about the posture and integrity of your heart. What impurities like hidden motives, patterns of sin, distractions, or attachments keep you from seeing God clearly?

Bring them honestly before Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse and refine you. Imagine what it would be like to approach today with an undivided heart fixed entirely on Him.

How might your vision of God and ability to see Him at work become clearer in that purity?

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."  -Matthew 5:7

Mercy begins with remembering the mercy you have received and the depth of God’s forgiveness toward you. Mercy is at the heart of His character.

Psalm 103:8-14 reminds us:

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.

Out of His deep compassion, God has removed our transgressions and extended forgiveness we do not deserve. Before we can be merciful, we must first receive His mercy. Only when we recognize how much we have been forgiven can we truly extend that same mercy to others.

Mercy knows there is always more to the story—yours, mine, the stranger’s, and even God’s.

Spend some time in prayer to pause and reflect on the mercy we have received from God. Begin by thanking Him for His incredible compassion and forgiveness toward you. Consider how deeply you’ve been forgiven and let your heart overflow with gratitude. Then, consider who in your life, besides yourself, needs mercy today, even if it feels undeserved? Is there bitterness you’ve been holding? Ask God for the grace to release it and forgive. Pray that God would give you eyes to see a person to whom you can intentionally show mercy today in your words, actions, or even in your thoughts toward them.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” -Matthew 5:6

What do you crave most today? Success, comfort, approval—or something deeper? Sit quietly and examine the longings of your heart. Do you hunger and thirst for a deeper relationship with God even more? Pray about your response, asking God to give you insight into your answer.

Righteousness means living in right-relationship with God, with others, with creation, and with ourselves. It is what we were made for. And yet, we all know all too well what it looks and feels like to live in wrong-relationship, feeling disconnected, misunderstood, afraid, angry, ashamed, or alone. Pray about where you are experiencing unrighteousness in your life and relationships right now. Be honest. Be bold. Be direct. Ask God to help you more fully recognize and receive the right-relationship He has first secured for you with Him, through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

Ask God to show you where brokenness in your own heart and life is negatively impacting your relationships with others. Ask for God’s help in addressing these issues, and for His guidance in reaching out to a brother or sister in Christ whom you can trust. Trust in God’s promise that when we hunger and thirst for right-relationship, we will be filled!

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." -Matthew 5:5

Meekness invites us to lay aside defensiveness and pride, embracing humility and gentleness. Meekness is not willful weakness. Meekness is admitting our greatest strength is found in God, as modeled for us in the attitude and actions of Jesus.

Reflect now with the Lord on recent conversations or situations you have experienced. How might embracing a spirit of meekness have possibly changed your words or actions? What areas of your heart resist gentleness?

Ask God to shape your heart and mind so that humility becomes your natural attitude, especially when you face tension or hostile opposition. Ask God to help you practice meeting hostility and anger today with an opposite spirit of meekness: spiritual strength under control, in humility and gentleness.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." -Matthew 5:4

Grief comes in many forms—loss, disappointment, or awareness of sin and brokenness in us and in the world. What grief do you carry today? Bring those sorrows to Jesus, trusting His promise to meet and comfort you in them. Pray in faith, remembering God has promised there shall come a day when “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more” (Revelation 21:4).

As you reflect, consider those around you who may also be mourning. How might God be inviting you to be His hands and heart of comfort for someone else? Pray He would reveal someone to you and reach out in obedience and love to share the comfort of Christ.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 5:3

Begin this Lenten journey by acknowledging your deep need for God. On this Ash Wednesday, we especially remember our need for salvation from sin and its ultimate consequence of death. In what ways do you know the pain of sin, both as a victim and as a perpetrator? Confess to Him now and receive His gifts of forgiveness and mercy for you, and meant to be shared through you. Ask for guidance on how you may need to seek forgiveness from or offer forgiveness to others.

In what areas of your life have you been relying on your own strength to overcome or endure? Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal places where self-sufficiency has taken root. Repent, and ask the Lord to help you lay down your over-dependence upon self and receive the gift of utter dependence upon Christ. He is the One who makes beautiful things out of the dust of the earth. Pause, breathe deeply, receive His forgiveness, and rest in His grace.