"In the Grip of His Mercy represents Bishop Hilliard's most treasured advice, buttressed by sound Biblical teaching, about how we can stake a personal claim on the gifts of God for our life. This is a must read for believers everywhere. I know it will minister to your soul."

-Bishop T.D. Jakes Sr.
Senior Pastor, The Potter's House of Dallas, Inc.

We are all under pressure - financial stress, family expectations, personal guilt and envy, community and societal strain. Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. understands the trials and temptations (even King David and Peter were filled with doubt and fell from the chosen way), yet his simple and powerful message is this: God has not changed; the road to the moral life has always been filled with traps, treachery and heartbreak; but if we build our lives on the strength of faith in the Lord - as David, Isaac, Peter and others have before us - we cannot fall and will not fail.

As this passionate and compassionate book shows, no matter the nature of our inner turmoil or outer struggle, we can and must use the strength of the Lord to lift us up into the glory of his mercy.

"If you’re struggling through a situation right now, you need this book. If all is well with you right now, you definitely need this book! No matter where you are in life, In the Grip of His Mercy gives you the inspiration to armor up, get strong and get busy learning how to cling to the Heavenly Father’s love."

-Bishop Eddie Long
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Lithonia, GA

God Expects to See Good Fruit in You

The vineyard owner in Luke 13 had expectations of a fruitful year from his fig tree. When it failed to produce for the third year in a row, he gave his vine keeper one more season and said, “If you can’t make it produce, cut it down. I’ll give it another year, but I expect to see either fruit or another tree in its place.”

You and I were saved by God’s grace; our works or good deeds had nothing to do with it. After God transplants us into His garden and gives us a fresh start, He expects to see good fruit in our lives as we forget past things and “press toward the goal for the prize.”

God is gracious, and He knows that in the beginning of our lives as Christians, things can be difficult as we adjust to a higher standard of conduct. He also knows that good people fall down and fail from time to time. However, He expects each and every one of us to show some progress in due season.

None of us have His permission to stay the way we are. There should be some fruit on the branches of our tree. As we grow and are “cultivated and fertilized” by God’s Word and Holy Spirit, He expects to see certain things (sinful ways from the old days) cut off from our lives.

God also expects us to train our children in the same way. If you put something good and holy into your children, then you shouldn’t settle for anything less out of them. If they make a mistake, embrace and caress them, but also correct and rebuke them when necessary. Tell them, “You made a mistake. Daddy and Mommy still love you, but we want you to know that we don’t expect you to have another baby in this house without being married. We don’t expect you to fail another course. We don’t expect to see the police bringing you home again. We don’t expect you to drop out of high school; we expect you to go to college and own your own home! We expect it.”

Under the inspiration of God, David wrote, “He [who delights in God’s Word] shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Now is the season to rebuild your prayer and worship life and to restore the tithe and offerings back into their proper place. Now is the season to take hold of your wayward son and daughter in prayer and in hand and reel them back into God’s kingdom.

Seize Your Opportunity to Succeed!

The vine keeper had one more year. This gave him the chance to dig around the fig tree and fertilize it, to prune the branches and examine the roots to pinpoint any problems. The window of opportunity had opened wide; now it was up to him—and the fig tree—to step through the opening and seize the opportunity to succeed.

Some of us are too lazy or fearful to seize the opportunities God sends our way. There are all kinds of college scholarships available, but far too many high school graduates don’t go on to college. The opportunity to succeed, the “fourth season,” is there for anyone who has the determination to see it through.

It is time for us to seize divine opportunity with the spirit of determination. The Lord is saying to every tree in His vineyard, “I hold My season to account and I’m determined to make this next year count.” God has a season for you with your name on it. You were not born to be a failure; you were born with a divine purpose and destiny. Make it bear fruit.

Father, we thank You that we don’t have to experience any more wasted seasons in our lives. Because of Your faithfulness, grace and mercy, every season can count for something eternal. We receive the truth and life in Your Word, and we declare by faith that there will be no more wasted seasons. Thank You for giving us another season, another chance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©2004. Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. All rights reserved. Reprinted from In the Grip of His Mercy. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442.