Pray for Friends and Enemies

I realize I have not written lately. My week is horrible. The last two days and the first are the worst sleep wise. I work Friday from 3 to 12 at night. Wake up Saturday at 5 to go to class at 7:30 (my school is about an hour away) and get out of class at 1:30 or 2 to have just enough time to come home, eat, and get ready for work 4 to 12 at night... then I wake up for church on Sunday at 8 or 9, and have the best time at then work 3 to 12.. Lol it's such a pain going to school full time and working full time. :) But I'll get where I wanna be and where I feel God is calling me soon!


I have been reading Psalms like crazy and finding verses about God's glory for church tomorrow night. I have been searching for almost a week and have found quite a few. I relate it this way. I received the word Glorious. This is an adjective for something given glory, which is a form and a synonym of praise and adoration. So I am searching for verses of praise and lifting up God's name in thanksgiving and adoration.


So far I have seven verses for this and three possible verses to use. :)


Today I am reading Psalm 41 which is the last psalm of Book One. I have three different versions I am looking at right now. These are of course the three I have noticed to be the most viewed versions. Also, the most differing. I personally read the New Living Translation, and am also using (today) the New International Version and the King James Version.


Here it is for those of you who do not have a Bible:


(New Living Translation)


1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
      The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them
      and keeps them alive.
   He gives them prosperity in the land
      and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick
      and restores them to health.
4 “O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
      Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
      “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
      but all the while they gather gossip,
      and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
      imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
      “He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
      the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
10 Lord, have mercy on me.
      Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me,
      for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
      you have brought me into your presence forever.
13  Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
      who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
   Amen and amen!

This psalm is without a doubt beautiful. This is something not many take refuge in. God is there, a friend when you are in need, a healer, someone you can confide in even when your friends all turn their backs on you. V. 1-4 tells us exactly what I am saying. God blesses you beyond measure and blesses you   if you are kind to the poor (both poor in money and poor in spirit, even poor in health). He blesses us in spiritual prosperity, guaranteed. (Sorry, I am a sales representative, using words like "guarantee" come natural now.) He has our backs and takes good care of us.

V. 4-6 kind of make me want to be angry, but this is the way of the world now, the way of Satan. People offer help but it is with empty sympathy. They say to your face, "it will all get better soon" and then go to their other friends and tell them "they have no chance". What's worse, they do it so blatantly that the person they are talking about hears just as soon what is being said about them. Read v. 7-9. This simply reiterates what I am saying. This passage makes me remember more than ever to pray for me friends and enemies. Even my frienemies (combo).

Not only to pray for them and their actions, but also pray that God might show them through me what is right so I can definitely triumph over the evil that may seep into their lives. If they see me for what I am through Christ, what else is there? That is all I want anyone to see, Christ in me, living in me, through me, and me living for Him.

"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!"

We should always keep God's praise and glory in our mind and on our lips. I am giving a goal to whoever is reading this. Today, just today, tell someone of your relationship with Christ. Whether it be a short sentence of maybe five words, do it. Even an "I'm so excited about church tomorrow (or whatever day you have church)", even simply reading your Bible in public (as I do a LOT). Someone may see you and ask what you are reading. This is the perfect time to share your faith. Pray before your day begins, before breakfast, before lunch, before dinner, before sleeping. Pray before you take that long drive for safety, for beautiful weather, for a safe trip back as well. It is so exhilarating to talk to God almost 24/7. Do it.

God bless you! Prayer request? Email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com!

Lanie

Listening to 90.9 KSWP on my radio and have heard "I'm Not Who I Was" by Brandon Heath and "Born Again" by Newsboys. :)