Praying In the Right Spirit
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” - Luke 6:27
God calls us to pray for others. But we must make sure that we are praying in the right spirit. Why? Because it is easy to feel the need to retaliate when we feel attacked or insulted. We want to repay and eye for an eye or at least let them know that we mean business, so they won’t mess with us again. We want to pray that God will “pay them back” or cause them to stumble.
However, God will not repay a wrong for a wrong. We must pray to operate in the right spirit, that God’s will be done and not ours. And wishing ill will on others is not going to help us forgive and move on.
Praying in the right spirit shifts our focus from the wrong done to us to the purpose God has for us. That attack is often not even carnal. It is spiritual, and it is designed to grow us into stronger and more resilient individuals. It is one of many tests we will experience.
If we cannot handle the little trials, we definitely will not be spiritually fortified for the larger trials. David cries out to God in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
And that should be our prayer as well. To renew a right spirit because we too are a work in progress and need some grace. The next time you feel attacked, instead of reacting in the flesh, operate in the spirit and begin to pray. Even if the situation doesn’t immediately change, it will change your temperament and give you the strength to focus on the important tasks at hand in your life.
God calls us to pray for others. But we must make sure that we are praying in the right spirit. Why? Because it is easy to feel the need to retaliate when we feel attacked or insulted. We want to repay and eye for an eye or at least let them know that we mean business, so they won’t mess with us again. We want to pray that God will “pay them back” or cause them to stumble.
However, God will not repay a wrong for a wrong. We must pray to operate in the right spirit, that God’s will be done and not ours. And wishing ill will on others is not going to help us forgive and move on.
Praying in the right spirit shifts our focus from the wrong done to us to the purpose God has for us. That attack is often not even carnal. It is spiritual, and it is designed to grow us into stronger and more resilient individuals. It is one of many tests we will experience.
If we cannot handle the little trials, we definitely will not be spiritually fortified for the larger trials. David cries out to God in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
And that should be our prayer as well. To renew a right spirit because we too are a work in progress and need some grace. The next time you feel attacked, instead of reacting in the flesh, operate in the spirit and begin to pray. Even if the situation doesn’t immediately change, it will change your temperament and give you the strength to focus on the important tasks at hand in your life.
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1 Comment
Glory hallelujah! This message corrected my flesh today! I felt like the caregiver was attaching my level of understanding my mom condition! However, I'm giving my mom unconditional LOVE as she does me, dementia and all