Wednesday Words of Encouragement

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NIV) ~

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

 

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

I had another sleepless night last night as I wrestled with a decision.  I find myself in a situation that has been fairly stressful and a lot of it is because I'm dealing with someone who has a different value system than I do. 

From a purely human point of view, I would be justified to just walk away from the relationship and I've been praying for the right words to say to do this.  However, I asked a friend to pray for me last night and she did say she would be praying that the Lord would show me exactly what to do and how to do it.

This morning, I opened my Bible to this passage of scripture and was shown my answer.  My primary reason for being here in this community is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those I meet.  It's to show Christ's love and compassion.  It's to be a light in the darkness.  Sometimes that may mean being treated unjustly by someone in order to do that.  It may mean putting up with aggravation, unkindness, or annoyances.  It may mean I have to swallow my pride and it means I have to look at the bigger picture.

I prayed and ask the Lord to show me what to do and He answered.  It may not be what *I* want but at the same time I don't want to be a stumbling block to someone coming to know Him.  It's better that I put up with some temporary inconveniences and blows to my pride then have someone never come to know Him because of me.

So I'd love it if you would pray for me.  Pray that I would shine the light of God's love.  Pray that I would be gracious in my words and thoughts.  Pray that I would gracefully put up with some annoyance in order to have someone truly see God in me. 

I truly want to bring glory to Him!