“If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”— 1 John 4:20 (NLT)

Have you ever heard the saying, “Build a bridge and get over it?” That is exactly what you need to do when someone offends you. Holding a grudge is only hurting the one that holds it. Sin and pride are what get in our way.

Even when someone has done something hurtful to you, we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to love like Jesus, which means we are to love all, not just who we choose to love. We are to remove any pride, humble ourselves and extend that olive branch to the person that had offended us. 

Through the Holy Spirit we are able to forgive when in the flesh we can not. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, we have to ask Him for the power to do it. Only His power can override any hatred you are hanging on to with that person that has hurt you.

Living and loving like Jesus is not easy. We have to ask Him every day, to enable us to do it. We can’t do it on our own.

It is a choice to love others. Ask God to show you who you need to love today. You can have peace with others when you love people as God does. Be willing to love others who won’t love you back. Think about giving away a Threads with Red gift to them this week along with one of the tags attached to it. Maybe your gift will soften their heart.

Dear Lord,

I ask that you give me the strength to take the initiative to reach out to someone that I have been holding a grudge against. Help me to be able to let go of any hurt feelings that I have been harboring. I pray for hearts to be softened.  Infuse me with Your spirit to love even when I may not receive the same back.   I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Have you written down this month’s memory verse somewhere where you can see it every day? “Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.”—1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT)

If you are making any gifts to give away this month, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit Pray Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtags #ThreadsWithRed #KnitPrayShare.