Take the 3P (PPP) challenge:
Pray for People who Piss you off!
It's simple: Don't spend time and energy criticizing or being mad at others.
And when you don't do that, please be quick to criticize yourself and correct your ways! After a while, if you don't like what you are seeing (how you are doing with the challenge), you need help! So take to God what you see that needs fixing in you. Be humble and go to Him for any healing and restoring you need yourself. Why are you bitter, quick-tempered or full of rage? (I speak to Christians.) Our Master Jesus is not like that. So as we have it in our minds to be his disciples indeed (John 8:31-32), we will be transformed to be more like Him (Romans 6:4-7; Romans 8:29; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18). If that's not happening, we need to go back to square one. Ask yourself: How did you start that walk of faith when you believed? What gospel message did you hear? Did you repent and know when you have received the Holy Spirit to sanctify you, separate you from and make you more and more unlike the world that does not know God?
This world teaches you to be a wild beast lest you be devoured (by other wild beasts), but God does not lead his people that way.
What word is in you? (Let your gentlesness be known to all): https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1245823472163240
Is your mind getting renewed?
_.👉 Romans 12:1-2
Are you puting on the new man/woman?
_.👉 Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10
_______
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Romans 12:14-21
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Eternal One. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Galatians 5:16-23
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Titus 3:1-8
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Use this challenge as a mirror...
James 1:21-25
21 Therefore, having put aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, receive in humility the implanted word, that is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves, 23 because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror, 24 for he has viewed himself and has gone away, and immediately he has forgotten of what manner he was. 25 But the one having looked intently into the perfect law, that of freedom, and having continued in it, not having been a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work—this one will be blessed in his what he does.
And Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32) Realize people around you that you recognize as having "issues" need their healing from the Savior. "Hurt people hurt people" (Will Bowen) is a saying that has truth to it. Pray for them. You can always reach God on their behalf, whether it's someone you know or a stranger on the streets, and whether or not you get to speak to them. But when your reaction tends towards wanting to get back at people, or show them who they are messing with, etc. maybe you do this from a defensive place of hurt. That's a stronghold that needs to be brought down. It has no place in your life. In the world you shall have tribulation (John 16:33; 1 Peter 4:19) as a follower of Jesus, but God is your help, not a stronghold that is not from God.
Psalm 18:2
The Eternal One is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The truth of God's word is our food for healing and to set us free from all bondages.
Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
John 8:31-32
1 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 15:7-8
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
But if you are prideful on top of any temperament issues you may have, you can't recognize your own problem as a problem so you can have your own healing. Additionally, you may stuble upon the fact that you have difficulty forgiving people, which is a no-no (Matthew 6:14). For Jesus said:
Matthew 6:9-14
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Satan is not playing around. He has plan A and many plan Bs to trap you and keep you bound. Keep this in mind: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5) You need grace to deal with all the evil in the world. And it's fully within your capacity to humble yourself before God to receive the abundance of his grace. Or esle He will humble you as He needs to in order to get your attention as his child, if you are going around not being like Jesus and if indeed He is your Lord and Savior (1 John 2;6; 1 John 4:17). He chastises his children whom He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19).
Pride goes before destruction:
https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/photos/a.318153791596884.73279.316296218449308/867831679962423
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
May Jesus bless you!
See also:
"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart
By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11)
Asking, seeking and knocking, with faith and patience
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