October 2, 2009
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Just wanted to share…
Life has been crazy-busy lately, but I still try to do my e-devotional from Upper Room every day. This recent one reminded me that we can spare ourselves a lot of grief if we keep our expectations about ourselves and others more realistic:
Today’s Scripture
What does it matter? The important thing is that … whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.
-Philippians 1:18 (NIV)
ONE night while we were wilderness camping, raccoons tore into a bag of trash I neglected to hang up. I rose early to find a mess. I pondered three simple thoughts. First, This is what raccoons do. Second, They really didn’t hurt me. Third, Next time, I’ll tie my trash up higher!
God led me to write in my journal about the “raccoons” in my life, the people who seem to go through my “trash” — my weaknesses, scars, and unresolved pain — making a mess and causing me problems. One by one, I prayed for and about them, remembering the three thoughts above.
In Philippians, Paul spoke of those who “preached Christ out of selfish ambition, … supposing they could stir up trouble” for him. But Paul had learned to let go of anger at people like this. He said, “What does it matter?”
Some people seem to rummage through our weaknesses, trying to “stir up trouble.” But anger, retaliation, and distress are unnecessary. As Jesus told his disciples, we can be “wise as serpents” and “harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16, KJV). All of us, even troublemakers, are welcome at God’s table.
Stephen P. West (Alabama, USA)
Prayer
Lord, help us to face life’s troublemakers with confidence in your power. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Troublemakers are troubled people. Pray for them!
Prayer Focus
My troublemakers
Comments (11)
Been wondering about you, thought you dropped off the Earth!
Tie the trash higher!
use to get that delieverd in the hard copy magazine. sorta miss it
It is good to pray for the troublemakers who seek to rile people up, I suppose they are craving for attention. It is also good to pray for those that can be changed for good. The more good people the better. And of course pray for patience, so that you can learn more ways to be wise and survive easier in this chaotic world.
A wise perspective. It’s always hard to step back in the moment of someone’s mean-spiritedness and see what lies behind it. Takes amazing self-control — not sure I’m very good at it.
Pretty butterfly. I like butterflys because they are a symbol of the ressurection.
Some people aren’t happy unless they are stirring up somesome…I guess I just try to avoid them..
Yes, Lord, give us grace and wisdom to deal with those raccoons in our lives!
I like the butterfly too. I try to avoid troublemakers too. I don’t like raccoons around because they kill my chickens and steal eggs.
I like this!
Troublemakers are indeed troubled people! Good point to pray for them.
“Lord, give me strength, because I have a whole family of racoons!”