February is all about love.
This may sound trite, but I invite you to think about this:
It is easy to love those who are easy to love.
It is hard to love those who are hard to love.
Think about the coworker that complains all the time, or the boss who is always on your case. What about an unruly stepchild or a noisy neighbor? Individuals who try our patience are much more difficult to love. Yet as Christ followers, we know that we are called to love everyone!
So, what do we do?
1) First, we pray for ourselves. Lord, deal with us. What do we need to do to be more loving, gracious and kind? Ask the Lord to give you a humble attitude. Pray that we will see our own faults. Is it even remotely possible that we could have more problems then they do? Matthew 7:5 says, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
2) Then, pray for the person who is difficult to love. Ask the Lord to reveal himself to them. Ask that they allow the Lord to work in their heart and help them to become all that God has called them to be.
3) Surrender that person to the Lord. It isn’t your job to change them, it is the Lord’s job 🙂
Keep on loving friends–even those who are difficult to love!