My guy is a good one. He is godly, discerning, full of integrity, persistently loving, and so humble he’ll be annoyed I’m complimenting him publicly. So the reality of him struggling with anything perplexed me for a long time.

I wanted to help. Well, really, I wanted to 'fix him.' Seeing him hurt made my heart hurt. @BethanyMcIlrath
Click To Tweet

For a while, I tried to reason with him. He’s sharp, so our logic debates ended, at best, in a stalemate.

Being a big fan of “suck-it-up-buttercup” myself, I tested the phrase out on him. Oddly enough, the result was withdrawing.

Then, determined to be more encouraging, I worked hard to add optimism to any sign of struggle in every conversation.

On the best days, I took advantage of opportunities to push Scripture. I added planned “Jesus-times” to the schedule and set up sound structure I was sure would fix everything.

One night, I remember so clearly, he finally (gently) called me out on my attempts to fix him. Having been kind in what he probably didn’t perceive as a confrontation, he fell asleep. I did not.

I stayed up confessing to Christ my errors, crying out about my inability to make things better and my lack of ability to apparently even help. Bit by bit, my praying turned to Bible reading and it struck me:

Only God changes hearts. In fact, there’s a lot only God can do. @BethanyMcIlrath
Click To Tweet

Since then, I’ve committed to not trying to change anyone’s heart- including my husband’s.

God is faithful.

I can’t begin to pinpoint how many answered prayers have been evidenced by changes in my loved one’s lives and hearts (without my meddling.)

When I want to strategize and test and push others into what I believe is a “fix,” what I really need to do is bring them to Christ in prayer. That’s the example Christ and the apostles set for us, and it flows from loving others well.

“You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do.” –Philippians 1:7

This is what Paul said before and after recording his prayers for people in Philippi. He prayed because he loved them.

This Valentine’s Day, let’s remember that praying for others is a wonderful, beautiful, and effective way of loving them.@BethanyMcIlrath
Click To Tweet

Who are you praying for today?

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

Linkup party is open with @BethanyMcIlrath - This Valentine’s Day, let’s remember that praying for others is a wonderful, beautiful, and effective way of loving them. JOIN US?
Click To Tweet

The post Love Prays {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Paul’s greeting to the church at Philippi warmly displays his godly affection for the fellow believers he was so invested in. Each expression of love in the greeting teaches us something about what it means to build one another up in Christ.

Let’s not gloss over this passage as a nicety.

Will you take it as an opportunity to examine yourself and your affection for fellow believers with me?

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.”

–Ph 1:1

Point: Right away, Paul identifies himself and the recipients of the letter according to who they all are in Christ.

Q: Do you think of others as 'that busy, loud lady', 'the guy who never smiles' or… 'one of God’s people?'
Click To Tweet

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” –Ph 1:2

Point: We enter conversations with all sorts of intentions and baggage. Paul brings God’s good gifts right away instead of offloading his own stuff.

Q: Do you engage with others to extend God’s peace and grace first and foremost?

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” –Ph 1:3

Point: Every time we remember people is often a lot of times. And sometimes those remembrances are the result of grudges, suspicions, and other issues we haven’t let go of.

Q: Do you thank God for others when you think about them?

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” –Ph 1:4-5

Point: Joy accompanied Paul’s prayers for the Philippians. He was appreciative of their reaction to the Gospel and saw them as partners in faith.

Q: Do you rejoice about others’ faith, do you pray joyfully for others about their love for the Lord?

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” –Ph 1:6

Point: It’s easy to prescribe our own ideas of the work that needs to be done in others’ lives, as well as to worry about their growth. Paul trusted Christ to do the work and complete it- and he made that clear to his loved ones.
Click To Tweet

Q: Do you speak confidently about God’s work in others’ lives? Do you trust God to work in others?

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart” – Ph 1:7

Point: Paul felt joyful, appreciative, and confident about God’s work in these people because he was deeply invested in them.

Q: Do you carry others in your heart in such a way that you are deeply invested in their faith?

“Whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” –Ph 1:7

Point: In every circumstance, Paul recognized others as sharing in God’s grace with him. It would have been easy to withdraw or assume they couldn’t understand, making comparisons. Instead of drawing lines, Paul drew a circle of God’s grace around himself and others.

Q: Do you see others as sharing in God’s grace through your circumstances?

“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” –Ph 1:8

Point: Paul’s longing was so sincere and so based in Christ, instead of being rooted in convenience, relational chemistry, or ancillary things held in common.

Q: Would you want God to testify about the way you have cared for others? Has that caring been Christlike?

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” –Ph 1:9-11

Point: Paul’s prayers for these beloved people weren’t focused on circumstances, wishes, or even trials. His main concern was their relationship with Christ and their progress in the faith.

Q: Are your prayers for others about them growing in and glorifying God?

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP PARTY is open! Today, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath challenged me. Do I carry others in my heart in such a way that I am deeply invested in their faith? JOIN us & share your blog
Click To Tweet

The post Questions about Loving Well {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.