Going the Extra Mile

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  

Reading: Matthew 5:38–48

Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.

Jesus calls us to a kind of love that feels impossible—loving our enemies, giving more than is asked, and forgiving beyond reason. This is not about letting others take advantage of us but about showing the radical, undeserved love of God. When we choose to go further than expected, we display the heart of Christ, who went all the way to the cross for us.

Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…  

1. Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).  
2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: Lord, teach me to love beyond limits, even when it’s hard. Give me the strength to extend grace the way You have extended it to me.
   
3. Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.  

Take Action:

1. Choose one relationship or situation where you can go “the extra mile” in kindness, service, or forgiveness.
   
   
2. Pray for someone you find difficult to love, asking God to soften your heart toward them.