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“You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.“
-James 4:2-3
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
-James 4:7-12
The passage from Matthew that reads “love your enemies” has never hit so close to home for me before. Loving others who have hurt you through their actions, words or attitudes can be one of the most difficult things ever. What do we do when those you love shut you out of their life unexpectedly? How can we love someone we no longer speak to or see? I have been grappling with these questions lately and believe one of the best ways to love someone in this situation is to faithfully pray for them. Albeit, it’s hard. Very hard. Getting on your knees consistently for someone who doesn’t care for you anymore can be tough. The Blazing Center recently posted two stories that encouraged me regarding this subject (thanks for sharing this link Hannah). This has been a challenge for me, but no matter how hard, it’s the right thing to do.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Green grass.
Warmer temperatures.
Leaf buds.
Blooming flowers.
Bird sounds.
New life.
These are just a few things that come to mind when I think of spring. Each spring, new life forms in a variety of ways, from a nestful of baby birds to little flower shoots. The Bible draws the analogy that we are to be like the fig tree bearing fruit. We are to be like trees bringing forth fruit in season.
In a season where new life and new growth are expected, why do I feel so dry and worthless?
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Romans 8:28:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God does work things out for our good, but we need to make sure that our definition of “good” lines up with God’s. I think many times, we believe they’re both the same…only to be heartbroken when we realize He had something slightly different in mind.
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