Journal Entry ~ 08/09/19

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!  - Psalm 133:1

Dwelling in unity with others can be incredibly challenging, but God reminds us in this psalm that this is what we are to strive for at all times. 

We all have those difficult people in our lives - they frustrate and anger us because they have either hurt us or they have hurt someone we love. But here, we are called toward unity with them. 

We must learn how to pull back from the emotion of the moment and recognize that God has a plan for these difficult people just as He has a plan for us - and ultimately His plan is that all come to know and glorify Him as Lord. If they are not a child of God, His plan is salvation for that person, and if they are a child of God, His plan is for sanctification. 

If we consider ourselves to be children of God, we must be on God's plan. That means our work for the kingdom must be that all people come to know Christ. All people. It isn't our job to determine which people, or choose only those we like. All people. 

We are told in scripture if possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Everything we choose to think, do, or say about others must promote peace. You’ve probably come to realize this isn’t possible in our own power - we need the gentle and patience found only in the Holy Spirit. We need His grace - for that we must be in His Word and in prayer. 

When we pray, God reveals our sinful nature to us - our lack of peace with others, our frustration and our anger toward others, our choice to turn against Him. When we see that sin, we must immediately confess it because we know blessed is the pure in heart and blessed are the peacemakers.  

Without a merciful, pure, peacemaking heart with others, we cannot have one within ourselves because we are not one with God. Strive for peace, my friends in all that you do. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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