Tuesday 28th

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15

Bitterness can take root when we allow the hurts of the past to stay with us. For many people the growing up years are a time of hurt, abuse, ridicule. Perhaps you have gone through relationship breakdowns that leave you feeling unloved or rejected. Don't dent the hurt, but allow God to protect you from bitterness.

Wednesday 29th

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. Matthew 5:38-40

Yesterday we prayed about past hurts. Today we think of those who are hurting us at the present. The passage is not saying that we make ourselves into punching bags or weak victims. Jesus is advocating a form of non-violent defiance in which we refuse to buy into the power games of others. Today we pray for the grace to be godly in current conflicts. If you are in an abusive relationship you may need to seek help to escape- do not be afraid to ask someone.