THANKFUL

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, I get frustrated! Changing other’s behavior to match my righteous standards keeps me hopping. How can they be so blind as not to follow my example? If only they could live as good as I do. Doing all those ‘sinful’ things keeps you from loving them. Maybe I need to come down harder on them so they will see the error of their ways.

That noise I hear is your judgmental-buzz-saw cutting the legs off my self-righteous high horse. When I compare myself to other believers, I throw the door’s wide open for pride to gain a foothold into my spirit. It’s ugly. It’s sinful. It’s opposite of what you, Lord Jesus, called me to do. You commanded me to love others, not change their conduct. That is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit alone.

Use us, Lord, to spread your hope to the lonely and despondent, who have been pummeled by life, or possibly pummeled by self-righteous people. Many battle mental issues, depression, and anxiety. Those who have faced continued trauma or abuse live with the painful memories. May your Spirit seek these dear ones out and call them to you. Be the hope they desperately need, to fill the emptiness in their heart that seems never to go away. Fill them with the joy of knowing you and living with your abiding peace. Calm their fears, soothe their spirit. May they feel and know love as never before.

Heal the sick. Destroy all cancers! Raise the spiritually dead. Teach us how to love one another as you love.

Keep me close to you, Lord Jesus. Amen.