I was at an appointment communicating with a professional and feeling pretty miserable about how poorly I felt I was being treated and quite disappointed given how excited I had been about the prospect of finally finding some help I needed when the Holy Spirit moved strongly on my heart. As I looked at her face in the midst of my misery, God reminded me I was speaking to a HUMAN BEING. Now you probably think that should have been perfectly obvious. Let me explain.
I was so caught up in the sins of worry, fear, pride, self-pity, complaining, self-centeredness, judgment, and self-seeking that I literally could not “see” in my heart that in front of me sat a woman God created. A woman who obviously had her own story, appeared to be in great pain over something, seemed in extreme bondage to something, seemed to be holding everything inside, and looked like she had never known love. A woman who clearly like we all do needed the Lord Jesus Christ, His love, His salvation, a forever relationship with Him, comfort, counsel, wisdom, and all else the Lord offers and provides.
The Holy Spirit moved on my heart to ask her a personal question. Her answer made clear she must have in fact been suffering greatly. He led me to tell her I would pray for her and others related to what she shared. And He led me to give her my Finding the Light Gospel tract which includes my personal story and the Gospel message before I left.
I confess to you that though I submitted to God to an extent, overall I failed miserably at that appointment. Both with the woman with whom I spoke and with her assistant. When her assistant also showed me a great lack of love, care, kindness, compassion, and patience, all of which normally are associated with the kind of profession these women were in, I again could not see past myself.
Even as I write this, I see how I fell so very far short. Despite my little attempt to do right.
God, forgive me! God, teach me your ways! God, help me walk in your love! God, help me to be kind, loving, patient, forgiving, giving, and merciful! God, use this message to teach, inspire, and encourage others to do right not the wrong I did! God, help us all to deny self, take up our crosses, and follow you! Oh, God, teach and train this world to love you with all our hearts and to love one another! Oh, help us God, AMEN!
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 NKJV
“”You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV