STOP GLOATING

It seems our world is full of people wanting to get back at people. It is what keeps attorneys in business. Maybe if someone hurt you, you want to get them back. You feel extreme hatred to a person who took the life of a friend or family member in a murder or auto accident and say you want them to receive justice too and get hurt just like they hurt the other person.

It is true that in a court of law people have to account for what they have done wrong. But for we as individuals to wish them ill will is not right either.

Right now our country is buried in scandal and turmoil and people need to be held responsible for the law breaking and atrocious things that have been hidden. Usually it will fall to the person ultimately responsible which in our countries' case would be the President. We need to pray and continue to pray and not be sitting around wishing he would get what is due him. Even though it is "natural" to hate and wish the worst thing when you have been wronged we really need to get our emotions under control. The Bible says in Romans 12:14(NIV) 'Bless them that persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.'

Our most effective tool in anything is prayer. If you are feeling hatred or immense anger over a situation ask God to replace it with supernatural love and pity for that person. This battle is about good and evil. God and the devil. Spiritual warfare. Proverbs 24:17-18(NIV) says 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.' Instead practice the power of prayer. In dealing with our nation's leaders and the corruption that is being uncovered, just pray for the truth to come out and righteousness to be done. Do not allow hatred or anger to control you. Let God do His work.

PRAYER: Lord I know we are commanded to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44 to pray for our enemies. Lord I can only do this through you and with your power. Lord Jesus you ultimately are in control and I need not worry but to trust you have a plan. Forgive me for any anger or hate I may have had. I want to remember to pray and let you do the rest. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link to post your prayers and read others prayers. This site is not run by the government but is independent.

Www.presidentialprayerteam.org

YET HE UTTERED NOT A WORD

Can you imagine yourself being yelled at, beaten, cursed, made fun of, blamed, and belittled but yet not opening up your mouth to defend yourself? Maybe some of these things have happened to you and your gut reaction initially is to rise up and say "stop it" These things and more happened to Jesus yet He was kind, gentle, and merciful and he "opened not his mouth" scripture says. Isaiah 53:7(NIV) says '

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.' Imagine having this happen to you and naturally you want to scream and fight back. As a believer we are supposed to try as best we can, with the Holy Spirit's help, to be like Him in all our ways, to include reacting to people. If you "pop a cork" so to speak, at the first conflict, say with a rude store clerk,you are not glorifying God very well are you? Matthew 27:12(NIV) further says 'when he was accused by the chief priests and elders he gave no answer.' Silence is golden especially in times when our human nature could start a doozy of a argument. 1 Peter 2:23(NIV) also says 'when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate, when he suffered he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to He who judges justly. ' James 1:19(ESV) is a good verse to "sear" into your brain and be able to pull up when you are tested. It simply says 'Know this my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.'  Put this verse into practice both inside and outside your home. Many times in scripture there are references to speaking and being foolish when we do not think before opening our mouth. The gift of self control comes into play in a huge way. Do you suppose you could control the urge to lash back when insults and the like were hurled at you? With God's help you can. PRAYER: It is my desire Lord to control my anger and what I say. Sometimes I may feel I deserve to have the last word and get back at someone for hurting me. I know Lord what is needed is prayer and self control. With your help I can be a witness even when I am put to the test. In Jesus' name. Amen. Click on link below to worship God in song. http://youtu.be/CqIA_l2ypkE

BEEN HURT? GIVE IT TO GOD.

Bitterness,resentment,hatred, lies, false accusations, damaged reputations, loss of a job, broken friendships, betrayals. Lots can happen to make a person angry, hurt, bitter, hopeless, and feeling washed up.

 Let's say someone refuses to forgive you for something. Humanly, anger builds up and  you may be hurt and want them to suffer but that is not God's ideal. James 1:19-20 reminds us "This you know my beloved brethren. Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness God desires." Anger causes you to sometimes say and do things you will regret later. Try to respond to being hurt in a loving way. To continually 'stir the pot' so to speak, does nothing but keep contempt alive. Perhaps the other individual who has caused the pain humanly deserves to be told off. Will that really resolve things? More importantly, is that how Jesus would want you to act?Probably not.

No one likes to be hurt emotionally by someone especially if it is a close friend, spouse, or other family member. Satan is  the one who causes this type of division. His specialty is dividing families and causing fights. If we could only direct our energies at fighting against him and not people how much better life would be.

Hebrews 12:14-15 says "Pursue peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God.Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the glory of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many be defiled."

PRAYER: Lord I love you and I want to be at peace with all those people you have placed in my life. Help me be careful what I say and how I react. Forgive me for the times maybe I have created hurt in someones life and maybe was unaware of it. My desire is to blow off bad things and focus on joy. In Jesus name. Amen.

DON'T BE UGLY BACK

Does anyone ever do something mean, disrespectful, or ugly to you and you say to yourself, "I'll show them!?"  Humanly people can really get to us if we let them. But the godly response to someone being mean or ugly is to turn the other cheek and not repay evil for evil. If more people did this there would be a lot less court battles today and fewer broken homes as well. As a believer we are supposed to be different and not be reacting to things like people in the world. You are to be an example for the kingdom no matter where you are.

You can let the most minor things start to get you mad if you let them.Let's say for instance that your husband or wife takes off an article of clothing and inconsiderately just throws it in the middle of the floor. You would think any grown person taught by a half way decent mom would know the socks and other articles of clothes do not go in the middle of the floor, right? You can treat the person like a child and say "pick that up now" , or  "I'm not the maid" or you can simply let it go, pray, and pick it up without saying anything or rubbing it in their face. Pretty hard to do perhaps with an adult that needs to know better. You have a choice to make. Keep the argument going by making an issue of it or just letting it go. I say choose to give it up and move on and pray. Give it to God. Only He can make the other person change. No amount of scolding or nagging will.

Whatever is going on with someone mistreating you sometimes you have to be the bigger more mature person and choose to give it up. You can keep beating this to death, so to speak ,or move on and go get your Bible and read and pray. Of course Satan would love you to keep stoking the flames of an argumentative spirit that wants to be in control and wants to have your own way and sort of be the 'winner' of the little battle.

 If the person being ugly is a spouse, first of all, shame on them, and if a Christian spouse that is worse. You may want to lash back, but for husbands and wives two verses are vitally important the first being Ephesians 4:26 which tells us "In your anger do not sin and do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Now you may be staying up a while but it is better than sleeping on the seam of the mattress or leaving the room. Also in James 1:19 it gives a bit of wisdom good in marriages and all relationships as well and it says " My dear brothers and sisters,   take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak   and slow to become angry." This could apply while shopping if you get mad at an inconsiderate employee or even apply this at your own job.

For those of you applying this in a marriage situation and if you are a 'lone ranger' or in other words maybe the only one in the marriage who attempts to stay close to God  and  your spouse is still being ugly, restrain yourself from wanting to fight just pray to yourself instead and do not repay evil. This is in the Bible in both 1 Peter 3:9 and in Romans 12:17 where it tells us to not return evil. That is human nature to keep fighting and to get the last word but that kind of conduct does not please the Lord but Satan loves it.

So where are you today? Are you able to let things go and move on and move closer to God and away from this offense? I will leave you with this verse out of 1 Peter 3:11 which says " He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it."

PRAYER:Lord I confess to you I sometimes get upset when people are not acting nice and want to pay them back. I know for a believer that is not the correct response but it is to be kind and gracious and speak to others like I would want spoken to. Help me Lord as I seek to lead a life pleasing to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.



Let me leave you with a wonderful song of praise and worship to lift your spirits if you are feeling angry. Click on link below and worship the Lord.
http://youtu.be/Tg1erjHNfCE