People are Not Easy to Love (no. 9)

“Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people” (Ephesians (Eph) 6:14-18 CJB). A lot of merchandise exists about the armor of God and the often overlooked part comes right there at the end. I am to “. . . pray at all times, with all kinds of prayer requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.” People are not easy to love because we don’t rely on God to take care of everything.

Awake with a prayer, go to bed with a prayer, and pray throughout the day. Folks used to wear all those WWJD bracelets and gear and that isn’t far off from what I should be thinking and asking all day long. What does God think? How does God want me to act? How would Jesus handle this situation? Am I showing God’s love in this situation? Is the Spirit moving me to take action? Prayer is all about working on that relationship with Him. And if I am not looking to Him for guidance and correction in my words and deeds, then on whom am I relying? I had a conversation with a person the other day that thought we could save ourselves. We can’t. God does all the saving. God is the one with the plan. I can choose to accept that plan or fight against it, however, inevitably, God is still in control.

I need to pray for all God’s people. And who are God’s people? I think that question sounds an awful lot like who is my neighbor? Or am I my brother’s keeper? God created us all in His Image. He sent His son to triumph over sin and death. So when I think about for whom I am praying . . . it kind of looks like God’s people are all people. I was a God’s people, I am a God’s people, and I will be a God’s people. And so were you, so are you, and so you will be.

Let’s encourage each and every one of us to build that relationship with the Lord. Through our example of prayer, we can help all God’s people see His example. Jesus found a lot of time to pray to God and He was God, is God, and will always be God. So, I might need to do life a little more prayerfully. “And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other. And let us do this all the more as you see the Day approaching “ (Messianic Jews (Heb) 10:24-25 CJB).

Grace and Shalom to your home.

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

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH