My friend and I were talking awhile back about how we have concerns within our family, nothing earth-shattering. She said she was praying about her attitude towards someone that she needed to forgive. Though she could have been asking God to fix the other person or show them the error of their ways, she was praying for her part in the matter. What the Lord thought of her was more important than what the family member did. Her dependence on God is a great example to me.
You may remember a time when you disagreed with someone and the discord upset you. The struggle is real. It’s hard to deal with the frustration and not easy to let go of someone’s unkindness and forgive them. However, if we step back a moment and see the big picture, things become easier. That is a little “trick” that one of my pastors taught me. You need to get the right perspective before you can see things God’s way. That may involve stepping back from pride and selfishness and looking at things from God’s angle. How does He see things? Paul writes an excellent guide to treating others how in a way God would approve of:
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15
Paul describes love as being the bond of perfection. Just as love held Jesus to the cross for our sins, we can be held to each other with the glue of love. My pastor was right. When we consider the big picture, things look very different. We can see the value of the virtues of kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and forgiving. We don’t have to do it by ourselves. Jesus helps us! Bonus…when we love, we receive His peace!
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Dear Father,
Thank You for loving us although we are imperfect. Help me to love others like You do. Help me to see love as the glue that we are meant to use on others generously. Thank You for guiding me to a place of peace in my relationships when I stumble. You are peace and I am so glad You are always with me. I love you! Amen
Journal “GROWwork” :
Touch base with someone who may have hurt your feelings or someone you know does not have many friends. Use God’s “glue of love” to restore a relationship, or start one with someone who needs love. Let’s grow from our experiences:)
(As always, I do the homework/GROW work too. I may need it most.)
Love and prayers to all,
Tina
Glory in the Morning 