Another hard day.
We had church this morning, and the person she is having the affair with is in our praise band. (She sings, I play guitar.)
I get to see him every other week (as he only shows up at church when she is there.)
One thing that was different is I shook his had at the sharing of the peace and wished him God's blessings. I had to ask for the spirit to fill me, to hold me to do this.
This dare is difficult. I can praise her for her singing at church, which I did the last time.
I need ideas on what I can commend in her. My own sins in seeing her faults are preventing me from seeing what is before me.
I need pray and meditate on this.
Update: To complete the dare I thanked her for the spiritual leadership she helped with in playing a game with our children.
You need to leave this entire thing to Christ. You need to focus your daily life on his dependance....
It looks as if they are mocking Christ.... Especially him by only attending when she does.
I am sure Christ will bring them both to their knees. But I am also sure of something else. You need to be the testimony in the situation....
Here is the thing I am wrestling with in shaking his hand. If I did so to rain coals down on his head, then it is a manipulation. If I did so because in fellowship of Christ, extending peace is what is required then it is not manipulation.
I prayed for the Spirit to me move in the direction of what is right, not what i want. In truth part of me wanted to hit the guy instead, but I see that as sin.
Does motive change whether something is manipulative or not?
Sometimes we have to be obedient in our acts and our feelings and motive will follow. The obedience has to come first sometimes and the feelings will follow. Leading the heart there. Now God knows why we are doing what we're doing. I think it's not only ok but necessary to be transparent with ourselves and Him about it. So I might say you know Lord, I know you want me to do x,y,z. Honestly I don't feel like doing it just yet, it's not easy, it's not fair, etc., etc., but I know it's good and I know I should so your will not mine and do it anyway. I find that He helps me through that and works with me till I'm at the place He'd have me be a lot more than if I simply not obedient.
Maybe this is Christs way of cleaning your heart. Since this is laying so heavy on your heart the real question is how do you make it right with Christ?
That is where your seeking must come now. Prayer and meditation on this is your priority.
remember, we are all experts at asking Christ. We must now become experts at listening.