Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].

— Proverbs 21:2 (AMP)

I like to define a motive as “the why behind the what.” A motive is the reason we do what we do. It is easy to say what we are doing with our time, but sometimes we do not understand why we do what we do. We might be doing something just to be well thought of, when truly we don’t have the time to do it.

Impure motives can cause many problems, one of which is being overcommitted, which results in unnecessary stress in our lives. Surely, we won’t live with extreme stress if we are obeying God and doing only what He wants us to do.

Never agree to do something in order to impress people or because you fear what they may think or say about you if you don’t. When an opportunity comes up, take the motive test—ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? Is this something I’m doing for God or something I’m doing to please people?”

Prayer of the Day: Dear God, please help me to always examine my motives and ensure that everything I do is for your glory and not for the approval of others. Help me to say no to things that are not in line with your will and to live a life free from unnecessary stress, amen.

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Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

— Mark 11:13-14 (NIV)

One of the Bible stories that can be confusing to people is the story of the fig tree. They wonder why Jesus cursed it to the point that it withered and dried up. I think the reason is simple: It wasn’t doing what God designed it to do. Because it had leaves, it should have had fruit too.

The day after Jesus cursed the tree, He and His disciples passed it again, and the disciples were shocked to see that it had died. Seeing their shock, Jesus told them, Have faith in God (Mark 11:22 NIV). He then went on in Mark 11:23–24 to talk about the sheer power of faith.

As believers, we can choose to respond to what God says the way the disciples responded when Jesus spoke to the fig tree, and we can be surprised when His Word actually comes to pass. Or we can be filled with faith. When we read God’s Word or hear His voice, we can immediately begin expecting it to happen.

Fill your mind today with thoughts of faith and confidence in God, not with thoughts of doubting Him, questioning Him, or wondering if He means what He says.

Believe God’s Word and keep believing it until you see Him fulfill His promises.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me to trust in Your promises and never be surprised when You fulfill them. Help me live with eager anticipation of Your movements and unwavering confidence in Your faithfulness. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

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 …God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

— James 4:6 (AMPC)

Grace is not only God’s undeserved favor that provides forgiveness and mercy when we sin, but it is also His power that enables us to do whatever we need to do in life. But He only gives it to those who are humble enough to admit that they need help. We all need help, but a prideful, independent attitude will cause us to keep trying to do things in our own strength, instead of admitting our inability and leaning entirely on God.

We should trade “trying” for “trusting.” Instead of struggling and being frustrated because our efforts always fail to produce what we want, we can ask for God’s help at the beginning of, and all the way through, each thing that we undertake in life. We can learn to lean on God, and as we do, it takes the pressure off of us. He can do more in one moment than we can do in a lifetime. Faith the size of a grain of mustard seed can do more than all the willpower and self-determination in the world (see Matthew 17:20).

Frustration always equals works of the flesh, which happen when we try to do in our own strength and effort what only God can do. We are partners with God, and as such, He will assign things for us to do, but we cannot complete what He asks us to do without leaning entirely on Him, let alone trying to do things He hasn’t told us to do. For example, it is not our job to change our family and friends, but it is our responsibility to pray for them and represent Christ in all of our interaction with them. If you are ready for help, humble yourself, admit that you can do nothing without Jesus, and receive His wisdom, strength, and help!

Prayer of the Day: Dear God, I admit that I need Your help. Help me to trade “trying” for “trusting” and to lean entirely on You. Thank You for Your grace that provides forgiveness and mercy, and for Your power that enables me to do whatever I need to do in life, amen.

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I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion. The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.

— Proverbs 8:12-13 (AMPC)

A confident woman takes action. I have heard that there are two types of people in the world: the ones who wait for something to happen and the ones who make something happen. Some people are naturally shy, while others are naturally bold, but with God on our side we can live in the supernatural, not the natural. We all have something to overcome. A naturally bold person has to overcome pride, excessive aggression, and false confidence, while the naturally shy must overcome anxiety, timidity, the temptation to withdraw from challenges, and low confidence.

A bold person can often be assertive to the point of being rude. What some people think is boldness is, in reality, pride—which is one of the things God’s Word says that He hates. It seems that bold people just naturally assume they are right about most things, and they don’t mind telling other people just how right they are. And, while confidence is a good thing, egotism is not. Thank God we can benefit from our strengths and overcome our weaknesses through His help.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I want to make something happen through my life, but with the confidence that comes through Your strength. I humble myself under Your mighty hand and refuse to trust in myself alone, amen. http://www.joycemeyer.org

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

— Genesis 39:21 (ESV)

Although Joseph was being punished unfairly because he was jailed for something he didn’t do, the Lord was still with him, giving him supernatural favor and taking care of him. He proved that a person is really never too far gone, even if he ends up in prison, if God gives him favor.

No matter what happens to us in life, we can have favor with God and with other people (see Luke 2:52). But like so many good things in life, just because something is available to us does not mean that we will partake of it. The Lord makes many things available to us that we never receive and enjoy because we never activate our faith.

For example, if we go to a job interview confessing fear and failure, we will almost be assured not to get the job. On the other hand, even if we apply for a job that we know we aren’t fully qualified for, we can still go in confidence, believing that God will give us favor in every situation that is His will. God doesn’t want us to be afraid of the hardships we face in life. He is in control, and He will work all things out for our good if we love and trust Him.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am grateful that I can depend on You to turn my weeping into joy. You are good, and You always bring good things. I wait on You and put my trust in You.

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Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God].

— Philippians 2:14 (AMP)

One of the biggest traps we fall into as Christians is the trap of grumbling and complaining, which seems to be an ever-present temptation in our lives. It’s so natural to complain that it seems that we are born with a complaining attitude—we don’t have to develop one.

On the other hand, we do have to develop and nurture a thankful attitude. This is a choice we can make each day in our quiet time with God. If we make it a priority to stay busy praising, worshipping, and thanking God, there will be no room for complaining, faultfinding, or murmuring.

Complaining does nothing but ruin what could be a good day, and it leaves us feeling unhappy, but thankfulness does the opposite. A grateful heart reminds us of how blessed we are and how good God is to us all the time.

Prayer of the Day: Dear God, help us to break free from the trap of grumbling and complaining. Help us to choose gratitude over negativity, and to nurture a thankful attitude each day. Remind us of our blessings and Your goodness, so that we may always have a heart full of praise and thanksgiving, amen.

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In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.

— Psalm 106:16-17 (NIV)

The world is filled with trouble, and not one of us can avoid it. Just think of the people who are sick, or parents whose children have terrible diseases, or people who need jobs and don’t have them. There is enough trouble in the world without causing trouble for ourselves, which is exactly what we do when we envy other people.

God gives each of us what He knows we can handle. Although His decisions may not always seem fair to us, we should remember that He does not make mistakes. He knows what He is doing, and we should trust Him in that.

If God doesn’t choose you for something you want, the best course of action is to be happy for the person He did choose and know that He will promote you at the right time. Being jealous or envious doesn’t change God’s mind; it only makes you miserable. So be content with what you have and stay happy.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me to be content with what You have given me and not ever to be jealous or envious of others, amen.

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Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

— Proverbs 27:4 (NIV)

Jealousy is often referred to as the “green-eyed monster.” It is a monster because it devours the life of those who permit it in their hearts. God has a special, individualized plan for each of us. Being jealous of another person is pointless because no matter how much we wish it, we cannot ever have anyone else’s life. Neither can we have the specific aspect of their life that makes us jealous of them.

A jealous and envious person is never content, and God wants us to be content always, trusting that He is doing—and will continue to do—great things in our lives. Being jealous of what others have or can do prevents us from seeing the blessings in our own lives. Jealousy is not new; it has been around since people began to inhabit the earth. Early in the story of Genesis, Cain was jealous of Abel, and he murdered him because of it. In 1 Samuel, King Saul was so jealous of David that he continually tried to kill him, and at times the jealousy drove him mad. In addition, some of Jesus’ twelve disciples were jealous of one another, asking Him which of them was the greatest.

The Bible tells us that jealousy can even make us sick: A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones (Proverbs 14:30 NIV). Being jealous or envious is foolish and a total waste of time. Wisdom recommends that we live at peace, be content with what we have, and be thankful in all things.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I’m sorry for being jealous and envious of other people. You have blessed me, and I want to be very thankful for what You have done and are doing in my life. Help me in the future to resist jealousy in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Keep awake and watch and pray [constantly], that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

— Mark 14:38 (AMPC)

Praying is probably the most important part of life preparation, yet so many people today ignore or forget this vital part of the process. I suggest you don’t do anything without first praying. The Bible says that we should acknowledge God in all our ways, and He will direct our steps and make them sure (see Proverbs 3:6). It’s not enough to know that He’s there. We must call on Him daily for His guidance and His strength.

I have been walking with God most of my life, and I am still learning the importance of not trying to do anything without praying. The Bible says we are to pray without ceasing. This does not mean that we do nothing all day except pray, but it does make the point that prayer is one of the most important things we can ever do. We need to pray our way through the day. Prayer opens the door for God to work in our lives, situations, and the lives of our loved ones. God will enable you to do things that will frequently surprise you if you take Him as your partner in life. But you must start with prayer.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, teach me to pray first, before attempting anything on my own. Help me to bring You into every moment of my day and life. I need Your guidance and strength in all that I do, amen.

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 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

— Psalm 30:11 (AMP)

It brings incredible joy when you embrace the truth that you are a forgiven and adored child of God. So why are so many Christians sad, frustrated, and miserable?

I believe it is because they do not understand the reality of being a child of God and the inheritance that is ours in Him. An obstacle or difficulty distracts them, and they simply forget the promises of God for their lives. This is the quickest way to live a sad life instead of a glad life.

Jesus did not die to give you a discouraged, defeated, “down” life—He is your glory and lifter of your head (see Psalm 3:3). God has given you everything you need to enjoy Him, to enjoy yourself and the life He has given you. So, look up today. Celebrate His goodness and His blessings in your life. You are a child of the King…let that fill your heart with joy!

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, for helping me embrace the truth of Your love for me. I am grateful that I do not need to be distracted by obstacles or difficulties and that I can choose to be happy and filled with joy.

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And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].

— Ephesians 4:23 (AMPC)

God wants us to always maintain a good attitude for two reasons. First, it glorifies Him and encourages other people to remain positive when they have problems; and second, it allows Him to work in our lives, bringing help and deliverance from our struggles.

Always having a good attitude is difficult unless we receive God’s grace to do so. Jesus said that apart from Him, we could do nothing (see John 15:5), but through Him we can do all things (see Philippians 4:13).

Don’t wait until you are tempted to have a bad attitude but pray daily that no matter what comes your way, you can endure it with a good attitude. We will always be tempted, but we can pray not to give in to the temptation.

A good attitude is one of our greatest assets. It keeps us hopeful no matter what is happening in our lives.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I trust You to grant me strength to face every difficulty I encounter. Help me keep a good attitude, filled with Your Holy Spirit, and always be thankful in every situation, amen.

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For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

— Hebrews 2:11 (AMPC)

New birth in Christ happens the instant we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Savior but learning to live a new life is a process of transformation.

God doesn’t work just with our behavior; He also changes our hearts. When we seriously commit ourselves to Jesus as Savior and Lord, God begins transforming us from the inside out. He makes us like Jesus on the inside and wants to work what is in us so it shows on the outside and other people can see and experience Jesus through us.

This transformation doesn’t happen overnight and will seem very slow at times. When you are tempted to condemn yourself because you aren’t making the progress you think you should be making, remind yourself, “I’m okay and I’m on my way!” Remember that through faith you have been made right with God, and even though you have not arrived at perfection, you are making progress.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, that though I may not be where I need to be, I am okay and I am on my way, amen.

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But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

— Isaiah 40:31 (AMPC)

I believe God chose to liken us to eagles in order to motivate us so we can rise to our potential in life and so He can encourage us to wait on Him. When success does not come easily, when we find ourselves frustrated and weary in our efforts, we can be refreshed by waiting on the Lord.

What does it really mean to wait for the Lord? It simply means spending time with Him, being in His presence, talking to Him, listening, meditating on His Word, worshiping Him, keeping Him at the center of our lives, all the while expecting Him to do something amazing. One meaning of the word wait is “to be twisted or braided together.” If we think about a braid in someone’s hair, we realize that the hair is woven together so that we cannot tell where one strand ends, and another begins. That is the way God wants us to be in our union with Him—so intimately intertwined and tightly woven together with Him that we are truly one with Him. As we wait on Him, we become more and more like Him.

An intimate relationship with God will strengthen you in the innermost part of your being. It will strengthen your heart; it will carry you through the hard times in your life with a sense of peace and confidence that all is well, no matter what is happening. It will give you the strength to endure tough situations in such a way that many of the people around you may not be able to detect even the slightest stress in your life.

When you wait on the Lord by faith, you draw everything you need from Him. He is your refuge, your enabler, your joy, your peace, your righteousness, your hope. He gives you everything you need to live in victory over any circumstance.

Are you ready to rise to your potential? You will do so when you can wait on God. When you wait on Him, your strength is made new again; you can fly as eagles do, over the storms of life; you can walk and run and not faint, because your trust is in Him.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I want to get more serious in my relationship with You. Help me as I wait on You. Help me rise to my potential, to soar like an eagle, and become everything you died for me to be, amen.

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For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

— Hebrews 6:10 (ESV)

When we are working hard and serving God, we may often feel that no one really appreciates our labor and sacrifices, but God sees us and knows everything we do. He appreciates our labor for Him, and He rewards us in due time.

The apostle Paul encourages us not to “become weary in doing good,” because in due time, “we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (see Galatians 6:9). I’m sure Paul experienced the same feelings of weariness that we feel at times, but he pressed on. His goal was to finish what God had given him to do, and that should be our aim also.

When you feel like giving up, just remember what Jesus went through so you could be forgiven for your sins and live with Him forever. Any difficulty you face is minor compared to what He endured. Any good thing you do for others is counted as something you have done for Jesus. Keep that in mind, and your work for Him will energize you and give you peace and joy.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for allowing me to serve You by serving others. Help me to always appreciate each opportunity and to find joy in my labor. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

— Psalm 139:15 (AMPC)

Have you ever asked God, “Why did You make me this way?” Sometimes the things we think are our worst faults, God will use to His greatest glory: But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? (Romans 9:20 AMPC).

Jesus died so that we might enjoy our life in abundance and to the fullest until it overflows. You’re not going to enjoy your life if you don’t enjoy yourself. Be satisfied with yourself and celebrate the unique way God made you.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for the life You have given me. Help me to enjoy my life and to celebrate the unique way You created me to be, amen.

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Well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you teach against stealing, do you steal (take what does not really belong to you)? You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery [are you unchaste in action or in thought]?… You who boast in the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law [by stealthily infringing upon or carelessly neglecting or openly breaking it]? For, as it is written, the name of God is maligned and blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you!…

— Romans 2:21-24 (AMPC)

Paul’s words remind me of a saying I used to hear often: “Don’t do as I do—do as I say.” The people who give this admonition expect others to live according to rules that they themselves admittedly are not willing to follow.

This is where many young or insecure Christians find themselves. They see some church leaders or those in authority doing things they know aren’t right, and they think, well, if they’re such great Christians and they can do that…it must be all right. This attitude can either lead them to do the same things or to turn away from God altogether.

We need to remember that God has called us to be responsible for our actions. God holds us accountable for every thought and every action—but our responsibility doesn’t stop there. We are also responsible to help lift up others when they fall.

Perhaps nowhere in the Bible is this concept more clearly defined than in Galatians 6:1-3 (AMPC). Paul laid down three important principles that Satan doesn’t want us to grasp. First, when we become aware that a sister or brother has fallen into sin, we are to do whatever we can to help lift up that person. Paul wrote, If any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

Even the best of us fail at times, but it is important to note that the word overtaken doesn’t mean a deliberate, intentional sin. It’s as if someone is walking down an icy sidewalk, slips, and falls. That’s how the Christian life works—nearly everyone slips sometimes.

What then should be our attitude when this happens? We should offer to help, of course. If someone slips on the ice, don’t you naturally rush over to help that person get up? That’s a Christian principle. But the enemy wants to make sure that you don’t do the right thing. He might even whisper in your ear, “Just don’t look in her direction. Ignore her. You are not obligated to help her get up. Why, you don’t even know her.” It’s easy to ignore people in need of help.

The Greek word translated restores was once a medical term used by a surgeon to describe medical procedures like removing a growth from a body or setting a broken arm. The goal is not to see that the person gets punished, but that the person gets healed.

The second point Paul made is that when we become aware someone has fallen, instead of pointing fingers and looking down on them, we should look at ourselves. The devil could have tempted us to do the same thing or something else just as bad . . . or even worse. We need to look with compassion on those who fall and remind ourselves, “Except for the grace of God, I could be there.”

The third thing is to push away pride in our own achievements. If we think we are more spiritual, we’re deceiving ourselves. Proverbs 16:18 (AMPC) gives this warning: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. We must not compare our achievements with others, but instead ask ourselves, Have I really done all that I could have done? Satan is thrilled when we compare ourselves with those who fail and see ourselves as being superior. But when we compare ourselves with the standards Jesus sets for us, we have no cause to be conceited or prideful. Instead, we can be humbly thankful that the Lord is at work in our lives.

Prayer of the Day: Lord Jesus, please remind me to help those who have fallen. Help me to remember that, except for Your grace, I could be the one who failed. But most of all, help me to remember that You are always with me and will help me overcome the evil one. I give You praise for all these things, amen.

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You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You.

— Isaiah 26:3 (AMPC)

If you want to live a peaceful, joy-filled, abundant life, you need to understand it all begins with the thoughts you choose to think. Your mind is connected to every feeling you have and every action you take.

A worried, anxious life begins with thoughts like this: How am I going to do everything I have to do? My life is impossible! This is more than I can handle! But a contented, happy life begins with thoughts like this: God loves me, and He will take care of everything in my future. He will give me the strength and ability to do each thing I need to do as it comes up.

You can choose the thoughts you want to dwell on. Your mind is connected to every part of your life, so choose to focus on godly thoughts today in order to experience the life Jesus came to give you.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, for helping me think positive, godly thoughts. I am grateful that I am not a prisoner to negative thinking and that I can choose to be happy, and joy filled.

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We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

Nobody is successful in any venture just by wishing they would be. Successful people make a plan and talk to themselves about that plan constantly. You can think things on purpose, and if you make what you think about match what you actually want to do, your feelings may not like it, but they will go along.

I slept great last night, and when I woke up at 5:00 a.m., I didn’t feel like getting up. It was so cozy under the fluffy cover, and I felt like staying right there. But I had a plan. I had decided how many hours I would write today, and in order to do that I had to get up. I thought, I am going to get up now, and I got up!

Do you make an effort to choose your thoughts, or do you just meditate on whatever falls into your head, even if it is in total disagreement with what you have said you want out of life? When your thoughts are going in a wrong direction, do you capture them and submit them to Christ as the Bible instructs (see 2 Corinthians 10:5)?

I want to encourage you today—the good news is you can change. As I have said for years, we are in a war and the mind is the battlefield. We either win or lose our battles based on winning or losing the war in our minds. Learn to think according to the Word of God, and your emotions will start lining up with your thoughts.

If you have had years of experiencing wrong thinking and letting your emotions lead you as I did, making the change may not be easy, and it will definitely require a commitment of study, time, and effort. But the results will be worth it. Don’t say, “I am just an emotional person, and I can’t help the way I feel.” Take control. You can do it! Keep your thoughts in line with the plan God has for your life—a plan to prosper you, and not to harm you (see Jeremiah 29:11). Take control of your thoughts by trusting them to Him.

Prayer of the Day: Father, please help me think thoughts that You approve of and quickly cast down the ones that You don’t approve of. Help me think things that are pleasing to You and that will release Your power into my life.

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If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

— Romans 12:18 (AMPC)

Recently someone was quite rude to me, and of course it hurt my feelings. I was tired because I had just returned from a conference, and that made me even more vulnerable. I had a decision to make! Would I stay angry, confront them, tell other people how they had treated me (gossip), or pray for them and be at peace?

I am sure you are familiar with the scenario I am describing, and when these things happen to us, we dare not follow our emotions. What we “feel” like doing and what God wants us to do are usually two very different things. I find it best to be quiet for a bit, let my emotions calm down, and think about the situation rationally.

Did the person hurt me on purpose, or were they perhaps under some sort of pressure that made them insensitive to my feelings? The individual who hurt me was having a very difficult day, and although they knew they were being rude and did apologize, they were having difficulty being kind to anyone. God’s Word encourages us to always believe the best of every person (see 1 Corinthians 13:7), and if we are willing to do it, it is one of the best ways to keep our peace in a situation like this.

Keeping the peace with others is very important and I highly recommend that you do so if it is at all possible. Confront those who mistreat you when God leads you to but avoid being touchy and getting your feelings hurt easily. When you get your feelings hurt, forgive the offender quickly and just imagine all the times you may have hurt someone and needed God’s forgiveness and theirs!

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me be at peace at all times. I want to always believe the best and forgive others just as You forgive me.

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And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

— Ephesians 4:32 (AMPC)

Unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, or offense of any kind can render us unable to hear from God. The Word of God is very clear on this subject. If we want God to forgive our sins and offenses against Him, we must forgive others their sins and offenses against us.

Ephesians 4:30–32, the passage that contains our verse for today, teaches that we grieve the Holy Spirit when we harbor negative emotions such as anger, resentment, and animosity in our hearts. When we hold unforgiveness against anyone for any reason, it hardens our hearts and prevents us from being sensitive to God’s leading in our lives. I once heard someone say that holding unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die.

Why spend your life being angry and bitter toward someone who is probably enjoying his or her life and does not even care that you are upset? Do yourself a favor—forgive those who hurt you! Give yourself the gift of forgiveness. It will bring peace to your heart and enable you to hear God’s voice and follow His leading in your life.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I want to live in peace and be sensitive to Your leading in my life. Help me to forgive others, as You have forgiven me, and move forward in life without anger, bitterness, or offense of any kind, amen.

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