•Saturday, August 15, 2009
“Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” Luke 6:28 (NLT).
Is there anyone in your life who plucks your nerves and makes you insane? Some people are just annoying; others seem to lay awake at night contriving how they can make us miserable. How do we deal with them?
Pray for them. And not, “Please God, let lightning strike” or “Lord, please make him pay!” These are knee jerk reactions, but as Christians we are meant to rise above basic human instincts.
In our daily walk with the Lord, as we align our thinking with God’s teachings, our hearts should be softening for all his children. When we consider them as God’s prodigals, we can begin to glimpse the heart of God being broken with longing for his children’s redemption.
Try this one: “Lord, please help him to let go of his anger or bitterness and to find peace and healing. Soften his heart, so that he can receive you.”
Yeah, it might feel like a waste of time. And they might never change. But your conscience will be clear, and God can use this person as a tool in your life to shape you into the likeness of his son, if you allow Him.
As you finish your prayer, don’t forget that you are not responsible for his actions, but you are accountable for your reaction to them. “Show me how to respond as a peacemaker instead of lashing out; give me wisdom and gentleness as I assert my boundaries.”
Difficult people are God’s children, too.
Is there anyone in your life who plucks your nerves and makes you insane? Some people are just annoying; others seem to lay awake at night contriving how they can make us miserable. How do we deal with them?
Pray for them. And not, “Please God, let lightning strike” or “Lord, please make him pay!” These are knee jerk reactions, but as Christians we are meant to rise above basic human instincts.
In our daily walk with the Lord, as we align our thinking with God’s teachings, our hearts should be softening for all his children. When we consider them as God’s prodigals, we can begin to glimpse the heart of God being broken with longing for his children’s redemption.
Try this one: “Lord, please help him to let go of his anger or bitterness and to find peace and healing. Soften his heart, so that he can receive you.”
Yeah, it might feel like a waste of time. And they might never change. But your conscience will be clear, and God can use this person as a tool in your life to shape you into the likeness of his son, if you allow Him.
As you finish your prayer, don’t forget that you are not responsible for his actions, but you are accountable for your reaction to them. “Show me how to respond as a peacemaker instead of lashing out; give me wisdom and gentleness as I assert my boundaries.”
Difficult people are God’s children, too.
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