This morning I was laying in bed chanting about specific sandpaper people in my life whom I have to be around regularly, "They are made in God's image and I will not think negative thoughts about them." It was a chant only because every time a negative thought began to emerge I would replace the thought with that phrase. So you can imagine the flow of negative thoughts. This morning I got an email newsletter from Debbie Griffith and I was flabbergasted at how God had heard me and responded in encouragement. I am going to copy and paste the devotion for you.
One of the most difficult things to do is to forgive a family member who has hurt us deeply. We want to make them understand how much they've hurt us and then we want them to ask for forgiveness and change their behavior. Yes, I'm there. That's what I want. But as I was gathering God's truth from the Bible the other day I came across 1 Peter 3:9 and it really spoke to my hurting heart. God laid out for me what I needed to do.
"Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing." "Wow," I thought, "It's actually part of God's plan for me to bless this family member and pray for their happiness and protection which means truly loving and feeling sorry that they haven't accepted the grace of God...everyday."
I want everyone to experience the awesome, intimate friendship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is the safest, most intimate relationship anyone could ever have. He knows my thoughts and loves me anyways. The coolest things about the Holy Spirit are that He will show us God's plan. He will be Jesus in us if we let Him. He is God. He has the whole power of God and resides inside us-- we are the Tabernacle in which God takes up residence.
This was my first interaction with the Holy Spirit today and what an awesome way to start off my day-- praying for the sandpaper people in my life. I’m praying that God will bless them today and show them His mercy and grace.
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That is why you are such a great person and friend! I hope this speaks to sandpapers.
ReplyDeletebeautiful- both the devotional and the lady sharing it with us. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I don't know how you do it. You seem to be able to reach deep within and express your emotions. I hope you have a very happy, peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Don't let "sandpapers" get the best of you. Just ignore their posts and refuse to play the game.
ReplyDeleteTammy Faye Gossett