pChurch. Sunday morning. You’re miraculously on time. You’ve already read your Bible and prayed. No one might notice the halo, but you’re fairly sure it’s there as you walk in. Unfortunately the seat free is next to *that* person. You know, the really friendly one who is nail-bitingly annoying. If only they would stop sniffing/elbowing you/shouting ‘hallelujah’. Everyone has got one of *those* people in our family, church, friendship group, or workplace. Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up on how we would change them, that we don’t allow our interactions to change us. When someone is teeth-grindingly frustrating we’re confronted with our own prejudices. When we realise what we have hang-ups about, our only options are to bury them and keep building internal anger (that really won’t do us any favours), or to bring them to God and ask for help. Great news: He thinks that person is great (yes, really) and He thinks you’re great. Today’s verse gives us one way to overcome our frustration; if we ask God for wise, encouraging words we will be able to speak kindness into that person’s life. As we choose to turn away from our negativity and ask God to show His love for them we *will* begin to see them through God’s eyes. If they change it will be through God’s love, which He allows us to show. And, having that love flow through us will always change us, too. /p
pWhat now?br /
Picture that person - make a vow to pray positive things for them every time you think of them (even if that beginning thought is just ‘grrrr’). Ask God for encouraging words and wisdom in your interactions with them./p