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From time to time, my husband
Sam and I ... errrr ... disagree. When we do, both of us become
absorbed in explaining our perspective to the other. Both of us just
want the other person to understand how we see the issue. I will be
thinking, if I can just get Sam to see it from my point of view, all
will be well. At the same time, he is thinking, if I can just get
Sue to see it from my point of view, then she will understand me and
everything will be ok.
I’ll even go so far as to pray like this: Oh God, just show Sam
how I feel about this! And I don’t care what Sam says, I know he
prays that same prayer. We will even go a step further, because we
are “mature” believers. We’ll ask God to show us the other person’s
perspective. And God will show me how Sam sees it and He will show
Sam how I see it, but those insights slip right through our fingers.
We never do really grasp the other person’s perspective, and both of
us continue to feel deeply misunderstood and frustrated. Nothing
starts this tug-of-war faster than when we disagree about how to
handle my son, Jay. As most of you know, Jay is mentally challenged,
so the situation can be complex.
The other day, while in the shower (of course), I had come to
that place where I had had enough. What Sam and I were doing wasn’t
working. So I told the Lord that I no longer wanted Sam to see my
perspective and I didn’t want to see Sam’s perspective. I wanted Sam
and I to see His perspective. And the Lord floated into my mind
Matthew 6:33 which reads:
But seek first
His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
I had never applied the
scripture that way before. But it made sense. Sam and I needed the
Lord’s perspective on how best to handle situations with Jay as they
arose. We needed to be asking Him how we could help Him achieve His
goals and stop wasting our time on earth trying to get the other one
to understand our perspective. (Doesn’t work anyway.) Then, because
God’s principle in Matthew 6:33 comes with a promise, we will be
understood as all these things will be added to us.
Prayer
Lord
God, Creator of all, I pray for these who are reading this. I ask
that You will prompt them to ask for Your perspective in the areas
where they need it.
I ask that You help them surrender their right to be
understood. Not so that they will not be understood, but so that
they will achieve something of eternal significance and, by applying
this principle, also be understood.
I ask that You help them redirect their energies into receiving
Your point of view and carrying out your plan of action in order to
achieve Your goals in the earth.
In the lovely name of our dear Jesus, I pray.
Blessings and smiles,
Sue Bowman
The Pool Ministries
www.thepoolministries.org
Prayer ministry by telephone is available. Call to set up an
appointment.
205.535.6064 |
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