People are Not Easy to Love no. 25

“Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God’s shalom , passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy” (Philippians (Php) 4:4-8). There is a tendency for people to worry about all sorts of things and Christians are not immune. We worry when we should be praying. People are not easy to love because they worry when they should be praying.

I will never fail to emphasize the importance of prayer. I think a lot of our problems within and without Christianity is linked to lack of prayer. Being a person that brings their requests before God is important. Prayer is a right relationship with God in that we are asking Him to be in control. And giving God the control over situations is a problem we face way too often.

When we bring our requests to God for His resolution we need to be thankful. What better situation than having the creator of everything willing to solve our problems no matter how monumental or trivial? I don’t know about you BUT that makes me thankful. Knowing that the same God that created everything is listening and in total control to help me should bring me peace.

When we bring our requests to God for His resolution that should grant us peace. He will be in union with us. He will keep our hearts and minds safe. And I should have peace when I bring my requests to the only one that can truly handle all situations.

Instead of worrying, we should focus “on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy”. Far too often we focus on the negative BUT prayer allows our worry to dissipate and our focus to move to how He wants us to live His example. Far too often we take things to God and then still let them take up our mind space. We think way too much about problems we gave to God. Well, which is it? Did I give it to God or am I still holding on to the problem for myself? I have to make that choice of whether I am going to worry about the situation or if I am truly giving it to Him. I need to worry about living His example and that does not involve worry.

Worry can lead us to anger and that is not the way to be in a right relationship with God. “Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” (Ya'akov (Jas) 1:19-20). I need to give my worry over to Him and focus on the right way of living that honors Him. Loving God and my neighbor is going to take a lot more prayer than worry. If we want to be a better Ambassador of His Kingdom, if we want to be a better example of His love, if we want to be easier to love, then we need prayer.

Grace and Shalom to your home.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

People are Not Easy to Love no. 24

“I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith — enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing. I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures. Love never ends; but prophecies will pass, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass. For our knowledge is partial, and our prophecy partial; but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, argued like a child; now that I have become a man, I have finished with childish ways. For now we see obscurely in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now I know partly; then I will know fully, just as God has fully known me. But for now, three things last — trust, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians (1 Co) 13:1-13). Love is the foundation of all healthy relationships. And that is where we sometimes fall short. If I lack love, I am nothing.

Love is an important foundation in all healthy relationships. God wants me to love Him and my neighbor. Love requires patience. Love requires kindness. Love builds each other up. Love is honest. Love is trusting. Love is hopeful. Love never ends. There are no limitations on love. Even the finiteness of my life does not bind love. Love never ends.

Too often we put limitations on love. I want to carve out a little corner for love to exist and I want love to look exactly a certain way and I want love to be exactly how I want love to be. Love always bears up. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always endures. I have no way of micromanaging love.

Love is the foundation of all healthy relationships. Love allows us to trust in each other and hope for the best. If I do not have love for God or my neighbor, I am nothing.