Yesterday I did something I have never done before. I went into the guest bathroom to wash out a paint brush and looked into the mirror. Normally when I look in the mirror I see flaws. The critique begins and ends in an "ugh". This time was different.
I stood there looking at myself. A small smile developed and I started to talk to myself. "I am beautiful," I told my reflection. I noticed the pretty waves in my hair and the fact that the color looks like Fall. I continued to look at my reflection and notice positive things about my appearance. Then my mirror conversation changed.
"I am beautiful on the inside because of Jesus in me." My smile grew as I told myself how even though I struggle with being selfish, proud, etc. I am beautiful because of the amazing fact that Jesus lives inside of me.
Like most of us, I focus on my negatives both inside and out. My mirror conversation was focused on the positives, most importantly the fact that Jesus lives in me. It's not that I ignored the negatives, they are still there, but they weren't important. The important thing is that I am beautiful because of Jesus in me.
I told myself that I hope that others see Him in me. I'm sure they see the negatives because we are used to seeing the negatives in ourselves and others. That lead me to think about how I see others. Do I look for their negatives first? I would have to say most of the time I do. When I look at people I want to look deeper and look to see if I see the beauty of Christ in them. I know I won't always find Him. That means that I need to pray that person comes to a place where they ask Him into their heart and let Him make them beautiful.
And for those who I see His beauty in? For them I will try harder to focus on their beauty, even when the negative is easier to see. I also will pray that He will shine out through Him even more.
I challenge you to have a mirror conversation and focus on the beauty that having Jesus in you brings out. Also to pray to see the His beauty in others and pray for those who don't have the beauty of Him them yet.
Showing posts with label Prayer for others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer for others. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Praying to Quiet the Thoughts
The other day I was having not-so-nice thoughts about someone. Even as I was thinking them I knew that I needed to stop. I tried to just not think them, but that only worked for a little while, and the yucky thoughts were back. I could physically and emotionally feel the effects of the thoughts. Then a verse popped into my head.
"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and God will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22
Specifically, the second part. I know that heaping burning coals on someone's head sounds awful, but it truly is not. In ancient times people traveled from place to place, think of shepherds, since they couldn't just run to the local Walmart to get a fire-starter they had to carry heated coals with them. They would take hot coals from their fire and put them in a box. The box would then be placed on their head as they traveled. That evening they would take the hot coals out of the box and use them to start their fire. Giving someone hot coals was considered an act of kindness. Giving coals to an enemy would obviously be seen as an extreme act of kindness, and according to Proverbs would result in a reward from God.
So what does this have to do with my thoughts? I stopped and prayed for the person I was thinking about and prayed that coals would be heaped on his/her head so he/she would have what is needed on his/her life journey. As I prayed the ugly, unkind thoughts simply stopped. I believe that was God's reward for heaping the coals. In 2 Corinthians 10 we are told to take ever thought captive. I don't know about anyone else, but I find this very hard to do at times. I am a thinker. As a thinker, my mind can go into speeding mode and it is very hard to slow it down enough to even stop the thoughts, let allow take them captive. I believe that by heaping these coals through prayer the Lord helped me to take those unkind thoughts captive.
Now, these heaping-of-coals prayer can be for more than just my enemies. The yucky thoughts I was having were not for an enemy, but rather for a friend. Yea, I just admitted that! I am sure I'm not the only one who has had a bad thought, a judgmental thought, or a even vengeful thought toward someone that I care about. For me it makes the physical and emotional impact even more profound when it is for someone I care about. If I am commanded to give an enemy food, water, and heaping coals, then how much more should I do this for a friend or family member!
Over the last few days a bad thought, a negative memory, and even a judgement has popped into my head. I woke up with one this morning, literally woke up thinking a negative thought about someone. Each time I have stopped and prayed for the person, in a specific direction when possible, but each time heaping those coals on their head. Each time the result was the same. The thoughts were gone, and I know that God truly will put upon that person what he/she needs. Next time you have a not-so-nice thought give it a try and see what the Lord does.
"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and God will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22
Specifically, the second part. I know that heaping burning coals on someone's head sounds awful, but it truly is not. In ancient times people traveled from place to place, think of shepherds, since they couldn't just run to the local Walmart to get a fire-starter they had to carry heated coals with them. They would take hot coals from their fire and put them in a box. The box would then be placed on their head as they traveled. That evening they would take the hot coals out of the box and use them to start their fire. Giving someone hot coals was considered an act of kindness. Giving coals to an enemy would obviously be seen as an extreme act of kindness, and according to Proverbs would result in a reward from God.
So what does this have to do with my thoughts? I stopped and prayed for the person I was thinking about and prayed that coals would be heaped on his/her head so he/she would have what is needed on his/her life journey. As I prayed the ugly, unkind thoughts simply stopped. I believe that was God's reward for heaping the coals. In 2 Corinthians 10 we are told to take ever thought captive. I don't know about anyone else, but I find this very hard to do at times. I am a thinker. As a thinker, my mind can go into speeding mode and it is very hard to slow it down enough to even stop the thoughts, let allow take them captive. I believe that by heaping these coals through prayer the Lord helped me to take those unkind thoughts captive.
Now, these heaping-of-coals prayer can be for more than just my enemies. The yucky thoughts I was having were not for an enemy, but rather for a friend. Yea, I just admitted that! I am sure I'm not the only one who has had a bad thought, a judgmental thought, or a even vengeful thought toward someone that I care about. For me it makes the physical and emotional impact even more profound when it is for someone I care about. If I am commanded to give an enemy food, water, and heaping coals, then how much more should I do this for a friend or family member!
Over the last few days a bad thought, a negative memory, and even a judgement has popped into my head. I woke up with one this morning, literally woke up thinking a negative thought about someone. Each time I have stopped and prayed for the person, in a specific direction when possible, but each time heaping those coals on their head. Each time the result was the same. The thoughts were gone, and I know that God truly will put upon that person what he/she needs. Next time you have a not-so-nice thought give it a try and see what the Lord does.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Influence
Today I was talking with a co-worker and she was sharing how she came to be saved. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing. I think of Aslan's words in A Horse and His Boy when he says, "Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own." So I don't like telling other people's stories, but this one impacted me deeply.
She shared that she used to work in a restaurant and an older gentleman and his wife would come in. He would ask her to go to church with them, but she always made excuses and didn't go. Then one day he came in with his pastor and asked her boss if she could take a break. The boss said she could and she sat down with the two men. They told her she had to be saved. She told them that was the problem. Keep telling her what she needs to be but she didn't even know what that meant. So they explained it to her. Right there, surrounded by chicken, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
About a year later that man died and at his funeral she spoke with the pastor. She said that it was obvious from his love for the Lord that he had been going to church is whole life. The pastor shocked her when he said that the man had been going to church for only about two years. He had been saved at 75!
I'm not sure who prayed for that man. I'm not sure for how long they prayed. I'm not sure how he came to his relationship with Jesus, but I know he was 75 when he did. I also know that he went into a restaurant repeatedly to help bring a woman to her own relationship with Jesus.
I think about the people I pray for to come to salvation. I think about how some are old, maybe too old. Yet, very few are anywhere near 75 years of age. I think about this man persistence to share the love of God with others. I think I must continue to pray. I must continue to share. I need to get a little more persistent.
You never know who you will influence and you have no idea how long it will take, but keep influencing!
She shared that she used to work in a restaurant and an older gentleman and his wife would come in. He would ask her to go to church with them, but she always made excuses and didn't go. Then one day he came in with his pastor and asked her boss if she could take a break. The boss said she could and she sat down with the two men. They told her she had to be saved. She told them that was the problem. Keep telling her what she needs to be but she didn't even know what that meant. So they explained it to her. Right there, surrounded by chicken, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
About a year later that man died and at his funeral she spoke with the pastor. She said that it was obvious from his love for the Lord that he had been going to church is whole life. The pastor shocked her when he said that the man had been going to church for only about two years. He had been saved at 75!
I'm not sure who prayed for that man. I'm not sure for how long they prayed. I'm not sure how he came to his relationship with Jesus, but I know he was 75 when he did. I also know that he went into a restaurant repeatedly to help bring a woman to her own relationship with Jesus.
I think about the people I pray for to come to salvation. I think about how some are old, maybe too old. Yet, very few are anywhere near 75 years of age. I think about this man persistence to share the love of God with others. I think I must continue to pray. I must continue to share. I need to get a little more persistent.
You never know who you will influence and you have no idea how long it will take, but keep influencing!
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