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Living So Well It Isn’t True

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

— Matthew 5:11

Not all criticism is persecution.

Sometimes it’s correction.

Sometimes it’s a mirror.

But Jesus speaks here about accusations that are false—

words spoken to wound, distort, or discredit.

The word translated revile carries the sense of being insulted or shamed

(oneidizō, ὀνειδίζω).

It names attacks on reputation, not just actions.

So the question this blessing invites us to ask is simple—and searching:

Is the criticism true?

If it is, we listen.

We repent.

We grow.

But if it is not—

if our lives are marked by integrity, compassion, and care—

then we are not called to defend ourselves endlessly.

We are called to live so well

that the accusation cannot take root.

Faithfulness does not make us immune to criticism.

But it does free us from being defined by it.

And that, too, is a blessing.

I’m Horace McMillon.

This is 60 Seconds of Hope.

Peace be with you.

#60SecondsOfHope

#LivingWithIntegrity

#FaithUnderFire

#BlessedWhenMisunderstood

#KingdomLiving

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Evening Prayer

A Prayer for Deeper Blessing

God of justice and compassion,

you know how easily we confuse blessing

with comfort, approval, and ease.

Teach us the deeper meaning of blessing—

the kind that shapes the soul

and binds us to one another in love.

When faithfulness costs us something,

steady our hearts.

When righteousness meets resistance,

give us courage that does not harden into bitterness.

Form in us a wellbeing that does not depend on praise,

a peace that does not collapse under pressure,

and a hope that cannot be taken away.

Let your kingdom take root within us—

in our choices,

in our communities,

and in our care for the most vulnerable.

Make us people who seek what is right,

even when it is costly,

trusting that your blessing runs deeper

than anything the world can give or take away.

Amen.

#60SecondsOfHope

#DeeperBlessing

#FaithUnderPressure

#JusticeAndMercy

#KingdomLiving

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Blessed Beyond Comfort

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:10

The word translated blessed points to something deeper than comfort or ease

(makarioi, μακάριοι)—a form of wellbeing that cannot be taken away.

We often assume blessing looks like health, success, or security.

And those can be good gifts.

But Jesus is pointing us toward something deeper.

When we commit ourselves to righteousness—

to justice, mercy, and the wellbeing of all—

we may face resistance.

We may be misunderstood or pushed aside.

And yet, this is where true blessing is found.

Because the kingdom of heaven is not only a future promise.

It is a present reality that takes root within us and among us

when our lives are aligned with God’s healing purposes.

Living for righteousness is costly.

But it forms a deeper peace, a shared strength,

and a resilient hope that no opposition can undo.

I’m Horace McMillon.

This is 60 Seconds of Hope.

Peace be with you.

#60SecondsOfHope

#BlessedBeyondComfort

#KingdomOfHeaven

#Righteousness

#FaithfulLiving

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A Prayer for Shalom-Making

God of wholeness and life,

you desire more than quiet—

you desire peace that heals, restores, and makes room for all to flourish.

Turn our hearts away from indifference

and our lives away from comfort that costs our neighbors their dignity.

Teach us to make peace where harm has been normalized,

to seek justice where silence has protected injustice,

and to stand with those whose well-being is most fragile.

Form us as your children—

not by what we claim,

but by the love we practice

and the peace we are willing to build.

Let our lives bear witness

to your deep concern for the world you love.

Amen.

#60SecondsOfHope #PrayerForPeace #ShalomLife #FaithInAction #LoveAtWork

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Blessed Are the Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

— Matthew 5:9

The word translated peacemakers comes from the Greek eirēnopoioi (εἰρηνοποιοί)—

a word that does not describe people who simply enjoy peace or avoid conflict.

It describes people who make peace.

This word is built on the Greek term for peace, eirēnē (εἰρήνη)—a peace that echoes the older biblical vision of shalom: not just the absence of violence, but wholeness, restoration, and shared well-being.

To be a peacemaker, then, is to work toward conditions where life can flourish—

especially for those most exposed to harm, neglect, or injustice.

God is not neutral about human suffering.

God is deeply concerned with humanity’s well-being—particularly the most vulnerable.

And those who share that concern, who labor for healing rather than domination,

for justice rather than convenience,

are called children of God—because they reflect God’s own heart.

Peacemaking is not passive.

It is love, practiced publicly.

I’m Horace McMillon.

This is 60 Seconds of Hope.

Peace be with you.

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A Prayer for Clear Vision

God of light and truth,

we confess how easily our hearts become divided—

pulled by fear, distracted by desire,

clouded by resentment and worry.

Cleanse our hearts, not by making us flawless,

but by making us whole.

Give us eyes of faith to see the good you are working toward.

Give us eyes of love to see your reflection

in neighbors, strangers, and enemies alike.

Where our vision has been narrowed, widen it.

Where our hearts have been cluttered, clear them.

Where we have been divided within ourselves, reunite us in love.

Make our hearts pure—

so that we may see you.

Amen.

#60SecondsOfHope

#PrayerForClarity

#UndividedHeart

#LoveYourNeighbor

#SeeingWithFaith

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Seeing God Clearly

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

— Matthew 5:8

The word translated pure does not mean perfect.

It means clear.

Undivided.

Unmixed.

And the heart Jesus speaks of is not just emotion—it is the center of how we think, desire, choose, and understand the world.

A pure heart is not one without struggle.

It is one that is not pulled apart by competing loyalties.

Only through the eyes of faith can we see the good God is working toward—even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

Only through the eyes of love can we see the image of God reflected in our neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies.

And only through a clear and undivided heart can we truly see God at work—in ourselves and in the world God loves.

I’m Horace McMillon.

This is 60 Seconds of Hope.

Peace be with you.

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A Prayer: Mercy That Keeps Us Human

(Saturday Prayer of Release)

God of compassion,

you see the places where our vision has narrowed

and our hearts have grown guarded.

Teach us mercy that does not calculate,

grace that does not demand earning,

and love that still recognizes your image

even when it is hidden or distorted.

When judgment tightens our grip,

invite us to release.

When resentment weighs us down,

give us rest.

Help us remember

that in recognizing the humanity of another,

we preserve our own.

And that mercy given

is mercy received.

On this day of stillness,

soften what has grown hard,

heal what has grown tired,

and keep us human

in a world that forgets how.

Amen.

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