A Prayer For You Today

Dear friends,

This past Sunday, we learned how Paul and Silas responded to cruelty and evil with kindness, mercy, and grace. This was the power of Christ in them. It’s in us, too.

A prayer for you today.

Father, if I was ever in doubt about the power of Your law, commands, and statutes to drive me to Jesus, all doubt is removed by the Scriptures. I cannot and I will not love like this apart from union and communion with Jesus.

So, as I pray I do so, convinced of Your love for me in Jesus and comforted to know that You have hidden my life in His. That is my only hope. Indeed, You were merciful to me in my ungratefulness and the evil of my unbelief—reconciling me to Yourself while I was still Your enemy (Rom. 5:8-10).

Who are my enemies—real or imagined? Forgive me for labeling some people “enemy” simply out of my bruised pride, hurt feelings, and fragile self. Gentle me in those relationships. Simply avoiding them will do no good, and rehearsing their failures will only fertilize my bitterness.

Father, for real enemies—those who’ve been instruments of harm in my life, by their words or with their own hands—for these relationships, give me wisdom and courage, faith and grace.

Lastly, in situations where I’m treated as someone’s enemy, help me to care more about Your glory than my reputation. Where I need to own my sin and repent, please make it clear to me, loving Father. When other people’s anger and distrust have very little to do with me, grant me grace and patience, kindness and understanding for them.

Father, I praise You for not rewarding me according to my sins; and I worship You for rewarding me according to Jesus’ righteousness. May Your grace continue to permeate and transform all my relationships. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ strong and loving name.

Taken from A Prayer for Difficult People, By Scotty Smith

God bless you, dear friends.

Pastor Joe