Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 43:1-5
Ps 43:1-5
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy, and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior, and my God.
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
There are some people that we cannot get along with, no matter how hard we try and no matter how much we give in to them. In fact, the more we accommodate them, the more demanding and difficult they become. These are the kinds of people that would say we put the butter on the wrong side of the toast. They are just miserable people and they want to make others equally miserable. Most of us know how to handle this kind of folks. We just stay away from them.
We should turn to God and pray for them. Deep down inside, they probably have been hurt by someone or some circumstance. It may be that they have bottled a body full of hate and it is just ready to explode, so every time there is an opening, they spew some of it on the person nearest to them. It may be that some genuine love will go a long way toward helping them change. This love may require that we confront them with their attitude and behavior to help them get over it.
A good way to open the conversation is to let them know that you have been praying for them that they can be filled with joy and peace. That will let them know that you are not trying to judge them or criticize them, just trying to help.
O Lord God, there are times that all of us get depressed. There are times we allow hatred to build up inside of us. There are times we unfairly take it out on others around us. I know that I cannot fix everyone’s problems, but with your help I can be more patient, I can show your love and kindness, and I can be more forgiving when others do me wrong. Give me a pure heart and a steadfast spirit so that I will faithfully serve you the best I can, and I will show your love to others. Give me wisdom and strength to accomplish what you want me to do today. Be with those who are sick and those who are hurting or anxious. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
