PRAYER PROMPT ••• A writer from Teen Vogue made the news yesterday for her horrible comments about the death of Billy Graham.
Last week, it was Joy Behar’s “mental illness” comment in regards to Mike Pence’s faith.
This stuff makes me mad!
The world is open and accepting of everyone except a committed Christian.
I want to go on a tirade about it, but whenever the heat of my righteous indignation ignites, I find the flames being extinguished.
It’s like the Holy Spirit is pouring a bucket of water on my anger.
God is working on my heart.
Anger is turning into compassion for these people.
That doesn’t happen without Jesus, y’all.
It’s not my nature.
I’d rather be angry.
But the Holy Spirit won’t let me stay there.
He is guiding me to a different way of thinking.
And He is gentle and strong.
I look at these women, and similar stories, and my heart hurts for the bitter, hardened walls they have put up.
What about you?
Do you want to be reactive and storm the walls of Facebook with indignant tirades the way I do?
But my way doesn’t work.
His way does.
It’s like what Southern Mamas have been saying for generations: “You’ll draw more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.”
He wants us (me) to stop being reacting in anger, but respond to others with love.
The way Jesus would.
In Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Jesus is right.
Our best retaliation for those who hurt or insult us is kindness and love… and a big heaping helping of prayer.
Prayer for the person who insults, but also a prayer for self, so we can respond as the Holy Spirit guides.
He never misdirects us.
Today, as you pray, thank the Holy Spirit for the work He’s doing in you.
Pray for those who hurt or insult you, and pray for yourself to have a compassionate heart who will love as Jesus loves.
