May 15, 2023 - Ephesians‬ ‭4:31-32

“Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.” Ephesians 4:31-32 TPT

Holy Spirit, we ask for you to walk with us today and guide our every thought, word, and action. Open our eyes to see the motives of our hearts. Help us to keep everything in check and glorifying you. Help us to see others through your eyes. If there is anyone that we are particularly frustrated with or having a hard time understanding, would you allow us to see them the way you see them and feel your love for them. Help us understand a bit of what they are going through and why they are the way they are. Please give us extra grace and patience to love them today. Remind us as many times as it takes how much you love them in spite of their shortcomings.

Help us to forgive others the way you forgive us. You truly do forgive us more than 70 times 7 times. We constantly mess up. Even repeating the same mistakes again and again. Yet your love and forgiveness are there for us again and again. You have so much patience with us. We ask for you to remind us of this as many times as we need reminding in order to get our attitudes toward people in order. Help us walk with others the way you do with us. Help us to focus on the good in them and not get stuck focusing on the issues that are hurting or bothering us. Dwelling on those things will only increase our irritation and will not help us. But only with your help can we learn to look past those things to focus on the good. Give us strength to forgive and wisdom on how to walk forward in a way that glorifies you in all we do.

In Jesus name, amen.