194/365: Are You Hard To Love?

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. ~Psalm 145: 8-9

Being a Christian doesn't automatically make it easier for us to deal with the world. It takes discipline and self-control to see people the way God sees them.

Thankfully, God does give grace to all. He's generous with love, and has compassion for his entire creation. And so should we.

Take a deep breath and move one inch closer to God by showing a little grace, compassion, and love to those people in your life who are hard to love. Pray for eyes to see their soul rather than their actions.

GO DEEPER: Romans 12:9-16

Next Step: Ask God to reveal those "unlovable" parts in yourself that make it difficult for others to reach you. Ask for the courage to tear down those walls.

Robert McFaddin

on 07/14/2023 at 02:11 AM

@Michael f vinning - thanks. ONLY 3, eh? (1) lazy and very unmotivated. Idk that I’ve ever been diligent about anything. (2) I can be VERY selfish. I love me some me. Always - or seemingly always - need my ego stroked. I create pictures for my grown kids for their birthdays. I send them out for suggestions and comments, but I LOVE it when they “ooh” and “ah” over them. I need to stop it. (3) I also talk over people - especially my wife and kids.

Jake C. Martin.

on 07/13/2023 at 05:22 PM

wow the lord is good cause this 1 is for my boss. he's been on my back lately ( more than usual) and today he just seems like he's gonna be in a mood again. I pray that the lord continues to give me the strength to see the light in him and not let his words/ actions get to me Amen. thank you lord yall have a blessed day as well

Old Dude

on 07/13/2023 at 04:54 PM

My sins always look worse on "the other guy."

David Powell-Byer Jr

on 07/13/2023 at 04:17 PM

I am a Veteran with PTSD. I was fun and loveable and long-suffering before I joined the Military. Now I am medically retired after 14 years of service and there is a whole lot now that is hard to love and less to be desired. To be honest my Wife is the true Warrior. She has taught and stood by my side through it all. it was not until my infidelity that I truly understand God's love and forgiveness displayed through my wife. it's going to be a long road but now that I was honest with her about that I feel I can open up to her about anything and everything I have experienced. I had been running for a long time and I feel like I am finally beginning to really seek God and being who He wants me to be instead of being an empty suite as I witnessed growing up in Church. God help us all seek you.

Ethan Rogers

on 07/13/2023 at 04:05 PM

Of course, I want to be loved. I seem to be argessive and talk over people, I know this is disliked by others, especially if I just met you. Also, I feel the jealousy of others against me, or at least percieve this. I assume things that I should not. Working on my judgmental tendencies. Recovery and yearning to be a man of God, has revealed alot of this to me. Knowing the problem exists is actually the first step, then admitting it. Turn it over, prayer, agree with God's direction, and seek to understand His will are the processes that I take to become a better man for God. Work. work, work.

Bruce Sanders

on 07/13/2023 at 03:14 PM

Great words to all gentlemen. In referencing to love others and not be judgmental I think or Jesus said why do you worry about a splinter in your brother‘s eye and not the plank in your own eye. Still a work in progress but thankful that we have a gracious, gentle Holy Spirit, who gently speaks to us and convicts us of our own sin. I just finished a book by Michael Reeves called evangelical Pharisees. Very eye-opening to my own situation.

Brandon Pembleton

on 07/13/2023 at 01:58 PM

I can be very critical of others. That character defect originates in ego. It is a way to assert I know more or I’m better than or look at me now sort of thing. I have learned to recognize this through lots of work on what my thoughts are leading up to those moments. Knowing that pattern I can ask myself before firing off criticism a few simple questions to pause the loop. Why do they need to know? Am I being critical because I see a behavior in them that I do and is it my brains way of trying to sort that out in myself (every time you point at something you have three fingers pointing back at yourself sort of thing). Is this just to show off? Is it me venting at another’s expense? How is this helpful? Then if it is helpful, how can I word it to be helpful to the other person and not helpful to my own ego or want to be right. Prayer and meditation taught me this. Prayer to give things to God and meditation to train my mind to observe my thoughts from a few steps back perspective. Thank you God for helping me learn these things. Thank you for discipline to practice and train them everyday. You God have made me whole again today and I have faith that you will help me everyday and every moment. I love you God amen 🙏

P31Man830

on 07/13/2023 at 01:55 PM

When you don’t want to be like the world (flesh) people tend to stay away from you because you are not smoking anything, drinking beer, wine and alcohol, not looking at rap and worldly music and films. Not chasing booty remaining pure until marriage. I am always talking about walking by faith and not by sight.

Boyce Moses

on 07/13/2023 at 01:46 PM

Strive to see others as if looking Christ’s eyes. We all have our filters we look through that isn’t always a good thing. Try to be the hands and feet of Christ as you interact with others. Love you Jesus! 💙💛💚💜

michael f vinning

on 07/13/2023 at 01:22 PM

No offense but I see most are avoiding that last statement-name 3 areas that are unlovable about yourself- I have made it difficult for anyone to love me, really love me. I don’t let many get close enough to love me-don’t let down the walls around my heart, my time, my presence. If I keep everyone at arms length then they can’t really hurt me-had enough of that in this life…but I know God would have me love and be loved-up close and personal-not at email distance! I am also too blunt with my words at times and love my routine which makes me slightly dull…wife says I’m not spontaneous enough or very flexible! Work in progress though- not giving up! Strength and courage brothers!

Fábio

on 07/13/2023 at 12:20 PM

"to see their soul, rather than their actions" No more words.

Mike J

on 07/13/2023 at 11:51 AM

Be like God. Give grace to all it makes you feel better and is easier to live.

Jason Kinder

on 07/13/2023 at 11:15 AM

This has always been a tall order for me. I do my best never to judge anyone but my sinful nature sometimes gets the best of me. I often think that ones actions often repeated gave me a good insight to someone's heart and soul. This often is how I decided how much or little interaction or value I will allow in my life, that's not right. We are all called to Love one another and the more I grow in my faith the more that makes since to me. learning to see with my eyes and to hear with my ears has be a life journey that keeps revealing new levels of growth and disiplin that I strive to achieve. This ever evolving dance of life is truly amazing, beautiful and humbling. God Bless

194/365: Are You Hard To Love?

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