We all have people in our life that are difficult. People who have hurt us. People who annoy us. People who misunderstand us. The list goes on.
For this month, I’d like to share an example of a prayer covering things you can pray about for the people you struggle with in your life and things you can pray for yourself as well.
Note: Purpose of series – Goal is to help those who struggle to pray to have an example, as well as a few scripture references. I hope to encourage prayer and to help give people an idea of various things we can pray about.
Prayer for loving others when it’s hard.
Dear Father,
I regret that there are people in my life I can barely speak the name of. It’s hard to even list them in this prayer. Lord, You know who they are. Please help me have the compassion and love of Christ for people in my life that I struggle with. Help me forgive those who have wronged me, as You have forgiven me from my sins.
Lord, Jesus, there are people who have hurt me. It’s so easy to focus more on their sin than my own. I can justify myself, elevate myself through my pride. But we all are sinners. Help me show them mercy. Help me be reminded and convicted that I’m no different. I, too, have sin in my heart and only through Christ’s righteous am I considered righteous. We all need the Savior. Help me care.
Lord, please help me have the wisdom to know healthy boundaries in my life. Help me not waste my time or throw my pearls to swine, so to speak. Help me be willing to give my time to people, to have patience, and to understand that people will let me down, that there is a time to devote myself to others and a time to move on.
Please help me be convicted around those I hardly pay attention to. The people who are quiet. The people who have less than me. The people who have more than me. Help me not rely on my own assumptions about others, but Your truth instead. Help me not compare myself to others, but put their interests and needs above my own. Help me glorify You by loving others. Lord, please help me have opportunities for conviction and to display Your love to others.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References to Study:
Matthew 7:06 – Don’t throw pearls to swine.
James 2:03-04 – Do not show partiality between rich and poor.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be compassionate and forgiving.
Matthew 6:14 – The Father forgives us as we forgive others.
Romans 3:22 – Righteousness comes through faith in Christ.
Romans 3:10 – We are all sinners, no one is righteous on his or her own.
The Gospel Message– The Gospel message is good news, which means there’s bad news. We all are sinners and condemned. We all deserve the just punishment of God’s wrath. Christianity is unlike any other religion because we cannot earn our way into Heaven. God saw the weakness of man and his utter depravity. Yet, He showed us grace. Jesus, God, One Person of the Trinity, became God in the flesh, the God-Man. He was always perfect and sinless. And His humanity was perfected on the cross, living the full sinless life. He became our atonement sacrifice. Dying in our place, taking on the wrath of God upon Himself. He died on the cross, and He was resurrected because death could not hold Him. Jesus is the answer. We, as guilty sinners, need His blood to pay off our debt of sin. For all who put their faith in Him – meaning eyes are opened to the Gospel, we see ourselves as a sinner, we see the need for Christ, we desire our Savior, and we see the ugliness of our sin. Putting our faith in Jesus, we seek HIs forgiveness and repent from our sins, we turn away from our old way of life. We, through the work of the Holy Spirit, continue to become convicted of sin daily. Our eyes will never be the same again. We see things in a different light, and the truth of Christ affects how we live and serve Him. Christ tells us to count the cost. Salvation is a serious topic, it is not to be taken lightly. For a breakdown of this powerful message, understanding how Christ could be God and Man, why God required sacrifices, and more -please see: Why Did A Loving God Kill His Son? (Does God Hate?)
If you think you know the Gospel, check out these questions and see how prepared you are for the day someone might ask you why you believe: The Gospel Challenge (30 Question Quiz) – Are You Ready To Defend Your Faith?
Scripture To Meditate On –(ESV) John 15:06 – If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Community Prayer –
Christian Topics/Series Covered
Personal Blog: Peeking Beneath
Second Blog: UnAshamed Christian Housewife
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Resources For False Teaching: Recommended Websites For False Teachers/Teaching
Video Playlist: Christian Questions, Topics, False Teachers, Insights
Video Playlist: New Christian Believer
Video Playlist: Understanding False Teachings
Video Playlist: Sermons To Grow From
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