Pray First

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"Pray First" By Diane Webb

Lamentations 3: 22—"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not".

God has so much compassion for you that even when you make mistakes He tries to help you. He wants you to recognize your errors and make the decision not to do it again. He then will make things right again for you and others involved. All you need to do is realize you've made the mistake, say you are sorry to God, and promise to work on that area that is a weakness for you. God does not always require you to apologize to others. Each situation is different so it must be decided on a case by case basis. Remember, God is working in other people's lives too and he does not need you to make things right for someone else—even if you are the one who made the original mistake. Disobedience is saying "no" to Christ. Anytime you say "no" make sure you have prayed about it first. Some people say "yes" too much and others say "no" too much. Every decision—yes or no—needs to be filtered with prayer. Things are not always as they seem on the surface but God knows all the details. Therefore, there is no rule that says "say yes to all requests" or "say no to all requests". It's not between you and other people—it's between you and God. That's why it is so important to pray before giving an answer or making a decision. When faced with two competing options—and pressed to make an instant decision—take just a few moments to pray for guidance. Few people can make the right decision off the cuff—without even pausing to think. Those instant reaction decisions are often wrong and based on past not present circumstances. But, because God loves you and wants to use you, he forgives you of your weakness. He corrected your mistake once you realized it (repented); now God just wants you to move forward starting from right now.

Father, thank you for your compassion and mercy. Thank you for making my mistakes right again and not letting anyone suffer for what I do wrong. Thank you for pointing these things out to me and helping me develop those traits I need to do your work. I look forward to doing your work today in whatever manner it presents—even those that are unexpected. Help me, Lord, to remember to pray first before giving an answer to anyone when asked. In Christ's name, Amen.