Grab your cup of java and sit a spell. What are you drinking? I'm having a nice Millstone Ground light French Vanilla brew with a splash of French Vanilla creamer.
Today's reading is Psalm 86.
The verse that stood out to me today was Psalm 86:7: "In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me."
The Psalmist is obviously distressed when he wrote this prayer being attacked by enemies and cries out for God's mercy and deliverance from this threat. I'm not in the midst of being attacked by an enemy. Yet this verse stood out to me. Why?
Lately I've been struggling with my dislike of my upstairs neighbor. I have legitimate reasons to be annoyed with him. But, as a Christian I don't have a legitimate reason to have the reaction I'm having -- the level of disdain I have towards the people living above me is not healthy.
Leviticus 19:18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself..."
Zechariah 8:16-17 "These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD."
Matthew 22:37-39 "Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"I've been praying about this (honestly) because I knew that I needed to have a change of heart in order "love my neighbor" and that change of heart can only come from the Lord. As the Psalmist reminded me this morning. "In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me."
I've struggled, though, because I kept wanting to pray for patience, but patience wasn't what I needed. Last night on my way to home group I realized what I needed...I needed compassion towards him.
Compassion: "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."By that definition I started to wonder "why compassion?". But, I feel strongly that that is exactly what the Lord told me to pray for towards this person. So, I guess that's what I need. But, now as I ponder it I realize some of the issues I have with this person are things that could be separating him from the Lord. Or, maybe he doesn't have that relationship at all. If that's the case, then I need to be feeling a deep sorrow for him.
So, hopefully in praying for compassion towards him I'll find a love for his being. And through that I'll find a way to tolerate his annoyances.
Lord, give each of us the heart to love our neighbors as ourselves. Give to us the compassion we need to alleviate the suffering of those around us and share the light that comes through you to those who need it. Through you we can find the answer to our troubles. Amen
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