Calling someone my enemy is a little harsh, I know. I personally don't think I have any true 'enemies', but there are definitely some people out there who I love less than others.
There are people out there who definitely annoy me. People I may not even know personally. You may be the same way. How about the person who cuts us off in traffic...? Rude drivers annoy me, and they drive my wife absolutely crazy. People in the service industry that give poor service drive me nuts. It's difficult to be polite and nice when someone is rude to us, or someone shows a careless attitude or work ethic.
How about when a close friend or member of the family lets you down...? They're certainly probably not your enemy, but you might be harboring temporary feelings of anger or grief towards them.
I have people in my own industry; tennis coaching, that I'd prefer not to be in the same room with. But I'm getting over that. I realize that I have an opportunity to let the light of Jesus shine in this or that particular situation.
Its' been a difficult transformation for me, but I'm learning to just give those situations to the Lord. And I had originally intended to pray for God to change my enemies. But after meditating on the situation a bit, I wonder if I'm not really the one that needs the attitude adjustment...?
If I respond with love in the first place and don't allow myself to be over taken with negative emotions perhaps my actions will provoke a different behavior from the targets of my dislike?
God is Love. And if I want to be more like him, I do believe that it's me that needs the most changing. So I must pray for myself this morning, too.
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for those who I don't particularly care for. What ever they have done to anger or hurt or offend me, it doesn't really matter. I still have plenty in my life to be thankful for. Help me to let go of the anger I'm harboring. What would Jesus do...? He'd just forgive and forget. He'd love them.
Father, I don't want to publicly list those who annoy me, but you know who they are. I lift them up to you, Lord. Heal these relationships, Jesus. There is no time to hold grudges. I don't want to be the kind of person that can hold a grudge. I think that my heart needs the most work.
So lift me up, Dear Jesus. Forgive my sins. Cleanse me with the blood of Salvation. I want to walk in peace and sin no more. I love you, my Lord. And I offer this day up to you. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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