Yesterday we spoke about making sure everybody in our boat is rowing and not drilling holes when are we not looking. We learned that we must choose our battles. Those who are drilling holes while we are not looking have a place in our story. Our present situation is not our final destination. The best chapters are the ones of survival, and we wouldn’t know how to survive if our ‘boat’ didn’t have holes.
Well today we are going to learn secrets on handling people who pretend to be kind and nice but, they spread hurtful stuff behind our backs. How would you react if you found out that someone in your inner circle was speaking unkind things about a painful situation in your life?
The Bible tells us that Job’s three friends accused him that his suffering was a punishment for sin, because God will cause no one to suffer innocently, and they advised him to repent and seek God’s mercy. Job’s three so-called friends came to comfort Job, but they ended up accusing him instead of encouraging him.
Most of us have had close acquaintances who came to comfort said some good things but behind your back said something totally opposite to others? Here’s what God told Job’s friends to do. God said they must go and ask Job to pray for them he will accept Job’s prayer and not deal with them according to their ignorance.
People need forgiveness despite how we feel about their actions. They may never ask for forgiveness but it’s pleasing to God that you pray for them. Your relationship with God is worth everything. Hurting people hurt others. Caring people see the best in people but don’t expect others to always be at their best.
Doing it God’s way is always the best way. Say a prayer for those who hurt you. Everyone is fighting a battle that no one knows about. The Bible says that when Job prayed for his three friends everything changed for Job himself. “The LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends.” Job had to forgive his friends, pray for them and not only was their friendship restored but everything he lost was restored in abundance.
God responds positively to our prayers for those who have offended us. He doesn’t respond to revenge. God is a God of restoration and relationship. When you pray for those who have betrayed you God strengthens you in every way. He raises you up so you can stand on mountains and walk on stormy seas.
The Lord’s prayer says, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” We need forgiveness and we need to forgive others. Our betrayers and offenders also need God’s forgiveness. God does not deal with us according to our ignorance. There are people’s prayers that may not be accepted for reasons we may never know so let’s pray for each other and extend grace in the hour of their personal need.
Every day we have an allotted number of waking hours so let’s not fight battles that don’t matter. Someone said, “Kindness is a language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.” Let’s choose to walk with integrity and live with limited regrets.
Amazing Grace 