Praying the Scriptures – Heart Attitudes – Ep. 7

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:8 NLT

We have been learning how the Lord may speak to your heart about a particular verse so that you can turn the dialogue into a prayer. We don’t twist the scriptures to make them work for us. Rather we seek to be living and praying in agreement with God’s will and God’s way.

God’s word is His way and His will

I John 5:14-15 states 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. We hold God’s word up to Him in intercession and by faith ask for His promises to be true in our lives. Be careful to align with God’s purposes and not your own. James 4:3 states You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Heart Attitudes

This leads us to today’s tip. Allow God’s word to penetrate into your attitudes. Notice the difference in the reflection of His holiness in your life. Don’t turn away too quickly. Let Him convict you of sin and righteousness.

At the beginning of the Good Samaritan story, a lawyer asked Jesus (The Word) what he must do to inherit eternal life? Jesus asked him what is required by the scriptures. The lawyer replied that he should love God with all his heart and love others as himself. Jesus told him to do this. The good samaritan story hinges on the next phrase from the lawyer – Wanting to justify himself, he asked, “who is my neighbor?”

This parable illustrates how the words of Jesus penetrated to the heart of the matter – conviction of limiting our love. Love is abundant and overflowing. It flows endlessly from the well springs of our heart. Throw off the fears and offer your love extravagantly to God and all others in your life. Don’t hold on to any justifications of your hurts and biases, let love warm the coldness of your heart.

How does all of this apply to today’s tip on our verse in Romans 12:8? Paul is asking the Romans to go “all in” with their use of their gifts. A wrong heart attitude will limit the full and free expression of their gift. A giver gives generously,  not being stingy. An encourager has life giving, inspiring words of hope, so be careful not to be judgmental. Those with mercy and compassion must understand that God has given them the compassion to see what others don’t so that they supply hope which God has placed within them.

Let the verse convict of sin or righteousness. Sometimes the verse reveals that God approves and wants us to know how He loves us. Other times, God convicts and ask us to repent (change the way we are thinking and move toward God’s way of doing it).

Let’s pray

Father, you alone are worthy of glory and honor. Only You can be full of love that is unconditional and at the same time be full of justice that is without partiality. It is all because of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial payment for our sins.

Father, will you help those who are encouragers to not become discouraged. Let their encouragement be genuine and from the heart. Let those who give, have great wisdom in their giving. Please keep them from becoming jaded by those who abuse their generosity through selfishness, entitlement and ungratefulness.

Father, help leaders administrate with grace and discernment, in freedom and not legalism, without coercion, guilt or manipulation. Help them to equip and empower and not to abuse the authority that You have given to them.

Thank you Father for the merciful. There are so many hurting people. Thank You for those who show true compassion that brings forth healing for others.

Thank You Father for the many expression of gifts that are in the body of believers. Help us to be healthy and productive. In Jesus name, Amen

Blessings Love y’all

Remember to share, comment, or like. You just might encourage others with your thoughts.