Photo Credit fireball45
After another visit, I decided I couldn’t stand this person any longer. Their attitude frustrated me to no end. No matter what I did, this person was bent on rejecting me.
I stood in my living room, too upset to sit down.
I told the Lord how mean this person was. Every time I saw them, they made me miserable. I began to complain about every fault I saw in them. I felt justified in my anger, pointing out all their sins to God.
In the midst of my complaining, a scripture floated across my mind.
“If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life” (1 John 5:16A NLT).
I sat down, convicted.
How many times have we complained about someone, seeing them as an obstacle to happiness, when God sees us as a gateway to their healing?
I did pray. It was hard, especially when they treated me badly. I wanted to scream, “Don’t you know I’m praying for you?!”
But I didn’t. Instead, I prayed in secret (Matthew 6:6).
It took some time, but little by little, their heart changed.
What will you do next time someone mistreats you?
Will you complain about them to everyone you know; or will you begin to pray?
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1 NKJV).
Hi Carolyn – thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
I appreciate your honesty with your story. It takes a very courageous individual to allow God to take over, specially when we have been wronged. I’ve learned the hard way, but allowing God to change me is always a good prayer 🙂 Take care and I will be stopping to read your blog!
Thank you for stopping by. Yes…letting God change us is always a great prayer and seems to be an ongoing, sometimes painful process at times:) God Bless you and I will be stopping by your blog as well.
This is so important to remember! Thanks for the share.
Thanks, God bless!
I have learned something very important, that is, it is very hard to hate someone if you pray for them. When you pray and intercede for someone, your feelings will change for that person and that person will observe it. Slowly they may change as well as the Holy Spirit works in their life.
So True! God Bless you.