I wrote this prayer some years ago now. It was for closing worship after a Church day conference where I had been invited to help the group explore ways of dealing with conflict, disagreement, relational tensions and all the other words we use to describe what happens when people are finding it hard to get on with each other!
Reading it again, it all feels a bit idealistic, and raises the inevitable question, "But How?" But then the fruit of the Spirit isn't about us being perfect, but about God's work in us conforming us to the image of Christ, bringing us to maturity, or to put it in our own casual terms, the fruit of the Spirit become signs that we are growing up!
Anyway, I'm posting it here for those who might find it helpful.....
Praying the Fruit of the Spirit When Dealing with Difficult People
Lord Jesus Christ, by your grace
help us to love others as you have loved us.
where there is the sadness of hurt, help us to bring the joy of laughter.
when we are provoked, may your peace stand guard over our hearts and minds.
when others speak hard words that hurt us, give us patience so that we don’t make things worse by speaking as we have been spoken to.
help us to find ways of showing kindness to those we find it hard to love.
may our thoughts and actions spring from goodness and not from defensive self-interest.
your love never gives up on us, no matter how often we hurt you; make our love for others as faithful as your love for us.
Lord Jesus, you are gentle and lowly in heart; give us that same gentleness and strength of character when we have to deal with difficult people.
by the power of your Spirit, give us self-control, in our words, in our thoughts and in the passions of our heart.
May the fruit of the Holy Spirit blossom, set and ripen in our lives, through your grace and by the obedience of our faith, Amen.
Thank you for the beautiful prayer.
Posted by: Maricar | April 16, 2024 at 05:27 AM