People I Don’t Like

People I Don’t Like

Ephesians 3:14-21 New King James Version

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

My Secret

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I don’t like everyone. I know that sounds awful, but it’s most certainly true. If we were honest most of us feel the same way. However, I do absolutely care about everyone’s soul and believe that it’s not only important, but Biblical and necessary to be kind and respectful to everyone no matter how awful, how fake or how annoying they may seem. 

Negative Feelings

What does any of that have to do with the scripture above? Well, I’ve recently been seeking God about how I feel about a few people. We won’t go into those details, but they are definitely not my favorite. I know that having negative feelings about others is something that needs to be immediately taken to the Lord so those feelings can be properly dealt with before they fester into something ugly. Even if the things we are feeling toward that person are accurate it doesn’t mean we can allow those thoughts to settle in and make a home in our heart. 

The List 

As I prayed I felt the Lord prompting me to write down their names on a piece of paper and begin praying for them. Now when we begin praying for people we don’t like and call out to God all the ways we think they need to change, it’s important to remember that we are not perfect ourselves. Many years ago while praying for my husband the Lord made me very aware of that fact. While someone else maybe so very wrong in everyway, we should always pray for the Lord to reveal to us in these situations things we probably need to change about ourselves. Otherwise our prayers are just selfish and judgemental. 

So I wrote down the names, folded it up and prayed for what I thought they needed. I also prayed to the Lord fix me or/and fix them because something has got to give. The next day He gave me this scripture. As I read it over and over I realized that not only would this be a great prayer for them. It’s a great prayer for myself, and for my church.  

Make It Personal

I had to take this and make it personal for all of us. Not just think it and write it down, but speak it, pray it out loud and truly mean it. I knew that God wanted me to pray these scriptures, but felt it was very important to study them in order to mean it deeply. 

What Does It Mean?

What did I find it meant? Well it meant that there was a deep internal change needed that only the Holy Ghost could facilitate. It also meant that for all of us to receive an increase of spiritual strength we would need to increase our spiritual intimacy with the Father. If we want spiritual power we can’t try to keep control from God and must allow Him into every part of our lives to clean up all the little things we try to hide. All the ugly feelings and “hidden sins” we pretend we don’t have. And to understand the depth of His love and experience and be filled with His fullness. 

We All Need It

That is what I wanted for the people on my list. Because when we can see how much we truly need God and stop hiding, or thinking we are hiding, things under pride, arrogance & haughtiness we are able to receive so much more than we can imagine. 

When we can do those things together, as a body of believers not only will we experience God in new and amazing ways, we can take all of it and go out into the world with the true love of Jesus in our hearts and help win souls. 

I’m sure you have the same kind of list I have. Maybe you wrote it down, maybe it’s just a mental list. Either way let this encourage you to pray for them, yourself, and others. Don’t allow the control the enemy has on others to blind and poison you.

( Take time to read and study today’s scriptures. Make them personal)

**Lord thank You for always helping me through things. For helping me to go in the right direction no matter what anyone else does. Never let me forget to keep check on my personal feelings about the behavior of others so it doesn’t fester into something that could throw my spirit off. Remind me Lord that with the gift of discernment is the responsibility to handle it in a Godly, loving way. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.**

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