TODAY'S READING:
Romans 12:
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 (NIV))
I am currently serving a 15-year prison sentence. Recently I had a visit from my children, whom I had not seen in three years. What joy! I noticed that my 8-year-old daughter, Ashley, was distant and looked sad. As she came close to me, she lowered her voice and said, “Papi, I have something to tell you. At my school a boy bothers me all the time. I’m tired of it and want it to stop. I want you to come and please talk to him.” I felt helpless. How could I possibly respond to my daughter?
I relied on what I have learned from God’s word and El Aposento Alto, the Spanish language edition of The Upper Room. I asked God to help me know how to respond to Ashley. I embraced her and said, “I cannot go talk to your teachers or to your classmate to stop this behavior. But we can do something! We can pray together and ask God to help take care of this situation.” We closed our eyes and prayed.
Three months later, my children came to visit again. I asked my daughter about the situation with her classmate. She smiled and responded, “Do you remember when we prayed? Everything is better. He and I are best friends now!”
TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may your word be foremost in our hearts and minds as we work through our challenges. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God can help me with my most difficult struggles.
PRAYER FOCUS: Children with a parent in prison
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but try to do what everyone regards as good. 18 If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people. 19 Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written,
“Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’”[Romans 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:41]
20 On the contrary,
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For by doing this, you will heap
fiery coals [of shame] on his head.”[Romans 12:20 Proverbs 25:21–22]
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Complete Jewish Bible).
***If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18 (NIV))
I am currently serving a 15-year prison sentence. Recently I had a visit from my children, whom I had not seen in three years. What joy! I noticed that my 8-year-old daughter, Ashley, was distant and looked sad. As she came close to me, she lowered her voice and said, “Papi, I have something to tell you. At my school a boy bothers me all the time. I’m tired of it and want it to stop. I want you to come and please talk to him.” I felt helpless. How could I possibly respond to my daughter?
I relied on what I have learned from God’s word and El Aposento Alto, the Spanish language edition of The Upper Room. I asked God to help me know how to respond to Ashley. I embraced her and said, “I cannot go talk to your teachers or to your classmate to stop this behavior. But we can do something! We can pray together and ask God to help take care of this situation.” We closed our eyes and prayed.
Three months later, my children came to visit again. I asked my daughter about the situation with her classmate. She smiled and responded, “Do you remember when we prayed? Everything is better. He and I are best friends now!”
TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may your word be foremost in our hearts and minds as we work through our challenges. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God can help me with my most difficult struggles.
PRAYER FOCUS: Children with a parent in prison
***
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