Devotionals

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Searching For Peace?
© 2006

by

Stephen A. Peterson


For the last three years, an Oklahoma City Basketball and Football sports official seems to take joy in criticizing other officials behind their backs or openly belittling them on the field of competition as well as verbalizing himself as the most knowledgeable and technically proficient sports official that anyone has ever seen.

At first, I let this man and his arrogance and wagging tongue bother me mainly because he would overrule mine and any other official's rulings in violation of basic high school federation rules and decorum. Then a day after he took a touchdown away from a team who should have won the football game, I inadvertedly knocked my Bible to the floor as I straightened up my athletic bag for a Saturday game. When I picked up the Bible, this passage was revealed: "Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matt 5:44). It appeared that God was saying and urging me to: "Pray. Don't criticize this man!"

Reluctant to pray for this bothersome man, I decided to go ahead and do what appeared to be God's statement and command to me. "It won't hurt to try," I told myself. However, what happened next took me by surprise. No, my prayers didn't cause the man to change. They did, however, change me. I simply could not bring myself to despise someone for whom I was praying for. And at last I felt peace within myself because I was no longer having to deal with all those bad thoughts and anger with this man.

Have you ever tried praying for someone who has used you poorly? Try it and see what happens. I wager that you'll be every bit as surprised as I was. Don't pray for the other person to change, but for God to bless that person, always remembering that the other is one of His children as well. Then you'll find it much easier to let go if the ill will that has been destroying your happiness, joy and peace of mind.

Today is an outstanding day to set out in search of peace, happiness and joy. Don't you agree?

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