A Prayer for the Difficult People in Our Lives.

Preaching this morning on dealing with difficult people. I wrote this prayer as the conclusion to the sermon. It's based on the fruit of the Spirit.

Lord Jesus, help us to LOVE others as you have loved us.

Lord Jesus, where there is the sadness of hurt, help us to bring the JOY of laughter.

Lord Jesus, when we are provoked, may your PEACE stand guard over our hearts and minds.

Lord Jesus, when others speak hard words that hurt us, give us PATIENCE so that we don’t make things worse by speaking as we have been spoken to.

Lord Jesus, help us to find ways of showing KINDNESS to those we find it hard to love.

Lord Jesus, may our thoughts and actions spring from GOODNESS and not from self-interest.

Lord Jesus, your love never gives up on us, no matter how often we hurt you; make our love for others as FAITHFUL as your love for us.

Lord Jesus, you are gentle and lowly in heart; give us that same GENTLENESS and strength of character when we have to deal with difficult people.

Lord Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, give us SELF-CONTROL, in our words, in our thoughts and in the passions of our heart.

May the fruit of the Holy Spirit blossom, set, and ripen in our lives, through your grace and by the obedience of our faith, Amen.