Dad would drive our 1955 Pontiac, Mom would ride in the shotgun seat, and my sister and I sat in the back. It did not matter where we were going because she and I would soon end up having a fight. Maybe she put her hand over the midline between her side of the seat and my side. Maybe I touched her. Whatever lit our fuses would soon be forgotten as our fight escalated.
Mom would then turn around and give us her best ‘don’t mess with your mama’ look. “Larry, why are you always causing trouble? Behave yourself.”
“Mom, she hit me last. So, I should be able to hit her one more time. It’s only fair!”
I am sure most of us can relate to this incident in one way or another, but the point is that avenging ourselves by retaliation is a natural reaction, which we learn as youngsters. Not only that, retaliation and vengeance will always escalate until one party loses or both sides quit. There are no in-between positions.
Today, I prayed:
Lord, we cry out to You to stop the racial war which is now being stirred up in America. Help us to no longer act as children, tossed to and fro by the waves of mankind and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes, and help us to speak the truth in love and to grow up in every way into who You are, the Head of the church. (Based on Ephesians 4:14 and 1 Timothy 1:1)
What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for America.
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Larry Who 
Larry, sometimes I think you’re looking over my shoulder as I read the Bible. Someone viciously hurt someone else that I love two days ago. I was so angry . . . and lost. I’m not a youngster anymore, but my first thought was to retaliate. In truth, I didn’t know how God wanted me to respond to such hatred. My knee-jerk reaction was to step in and give the offender back exactly what they gave my loved one. God showed me Ephesians 6:9 “Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.” The earlier verses were all about relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees, and it laid out exactly how God wants us to behave toward one another. Then he says to let go of threats–let go of those long speeches we rehearse in our minds, speeches that will surely prove that we are right! Right after this verse comes the teaching to dress in the armor of God. So, this is what God told me. Give up threatening, even in our thoughts.
Lift the Cross of Jesus,
Wow! What a great confirmation and testimony to the love of Jesus. Most of my long speeches are gone from my mind, except if you pick on my wife, children, or grandchildren. Then my thoughts dwell on getting even and repenting later. Do I carry out my thoughts? So far – no. The grace of God has protected me, by mostly having me in the wrong place at the right time.
Oh thank you so much, Mr Larry. All that is going on is heartbreaking. Praying with you. And I so appreciate Hope’s testimony! Today I was asking God about what word or scripture He wanted me to follow this year and it was mercy . . .to love mercy. Then I read in a book about how a guy realized that his marriage was a covenant first with God and that he would stand before God about how he treated his wife. All of a sudden I was praying for mercy for my husband, not wanting him to be before God with anything against him, especially concerning me.
Aub and I and my momma are still sick with a nasty flu. Thank you for praying!
God bless!
Debbie,
Thanks. Oh my! The Lord reminds me often of my attitude toward Carol and He hates my excuses. I now just reply, “Yes, Lord. You know.” God bless you.