Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Families can appear in harmony until really tested. Perhaps they are first challenged as they come together over the illness of a parent. Tensions rise after they have lost both their parents and are dealing with settling their estate.
The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the tester of hearts is the Lord. Proverbs 17:3
Satan sees an opportunity for a great divide as he puts each family member to the test.“You deserve more,” he tells them. “Things aren’t fair; fight for what is yours!” The messages continue to fill your head. How will you respond? Will you allow relationships to be destroyed? God or mammon?
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Luke 16:10-13
It is so easy to lose sight of what is important in life, especially the gift of family. When a patriarch and/or matriarch dies, the impact to the family may feel like the earth fell off its axis. Emotional chaos can ensue, and one’s worst self can appear. Prayer is needed, seeking the grace and clarity to follow the will of God, be attentive to his promptings, and continue to love all those around us dealing with the same loss.
Lord, we are weak, self-absorbed, and prone to fighting for all we think we deserve in this life. If we look at the crucifix, we can clearly see we deserve nothing. But you gave us the greatest gift, the gift of eternity. Help us to accept that gift and never to carelessly throw it away, by turning away from you and toward sin. Protect us from greed, self-righteousness, pride, envy, anger, vindictiveness, and hate, but when we slip into bad behaviors, grant us the humility to ask others, as well as you for forgiveness. You are our hope. You are all we truly need. Jesus, we trust in you!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Choose Love, by choosing to love. Pass it on!
