Day 18 of the 30-Day Praise Challenge

 

Day 18

Becky Harling

“Do not judge, & you will not be judged. Do not condemn, & you will not be condemned. Forgive, & you will be forgiven.” – Lk.6:37

The Invitation

“Praise Me for the people who drive you crazy & are difficult to love. Thank Me for their annoying habits & irritating idiosyncrasies. I can use these people to mold & shape you into My image. Thank Me that I am able to meet your needs even when others let you down. Praise Me that I am able to transform their lives as well as yours. Just as My Son died for you, My child, He died for them.

When you judge & condemn them, your attitude breaks My heart. I love the very ones you condemn. Praise Me for the good things I am teaching you through your most difficult relationships.

Thank Me for the opportunity to offer grace to those who offend you & forgiveness to those who hurt you. You become more like Me every time you offer mercy instead of judgment.

When you dare to praise Me for the difficult people in your life, I receive honor & glory, & you receive blessing. As you look into My face & worship Me, My love shines through you.”

(Mat.7:1; Rom.8:28; Mat.6:14; 1Pet.3:9)

Today, praise God for the difficult people in your life & how He is using them to shape you. I know this will be hard, but if you will do this, the Holy Spirit will soften your heart & help you forgive these people. Forgiveness is not something natural. It is a supernatural work of the Spirit in our lives. Praise Him by faith that He will empower you to forgive.

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1Pet.3:9)

Listen

Listen to “Losing” performed by Tenth Avenue North & “Eye of the Storm” performed by Ryan Stevenson. 

Pray

Lord Jesus, I thank You for the difficult people in my life. Thank You for ______________ [name specific people]. I praise You that although they irritate me, misunderstand me, or spread rumors about me, You are using them to refine my faith & to teach me about forgiveness.

I know that as I thank You for them, You will set me free from judging them & will empower me to forgive them. Thank You that even when I feel angry with them, You empower me to refrain from pouring out my anger.

God, it feels impossible to love those who have hurt me deeply, but I praise You that nothing is impossible with You. 

I praise You that as I struggle to love these people, You promise to be my refuge. If at any point I feel overwhelmed, I can hide in You.

(1Pet.1:6-7; Ps. 37:8; Lk.1:37; Ps.73:28; Ps.17:8)

Journal

What did God say to you during your praise time today with regard to the difficult people in your life?