Wednesday, 14th June 2023
Bible Reading: Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 7:12
Memory Verse: Forget about the wrong things people do to you. Don’t try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18
A farmer in ancient China had a neighbour who was a hunter who owned ferocious, but poorly trained hunting dogs. They jumped over the fence frequently and chased the farmer’s lambs. The farmer asked his neighbour to keep his dogs in check, but his plea fell on deaf ears. One day, the dogs again jumped the fence, attacked and severely injured several of the lambs. The farmer had had enough of his neighbour’s negligence. He went to town to consult a judge who listened carefully to the story and said: “I could punish the hunter and instruct him to keep his dogs chained or lock them up.
But you would lose a friend and gain an enemy. Which would you rather have, friend or foe for a neighbour?” The farmer replied that he preferred a friend. “Alright, I will offer you a solution that keeps your lambs safe, and which will keep your neighbour as a friend.” Having heard the judge’s solution, the farmer agreed. Once at home, the farmer immediately put the judge’s suggestions to test. He took three of his best lambs and presented them to his neighbour’s three small sons, who were overjoyed to receive such lovely pets and began to play with them. To protect his sons newly acquired playthings, the hunter built a strong kennel for his dogs.
Since then, the dogs never again bothered the farmer’s lambs. Out of gratitude for the farmer’s generosity toward his sons, the hunter often shared the game he had hunted with the farmer. The farmer reciprocated by sending the hunter lamb meat and cheese he had made. Within a short time, the neighbours became good friends. “One can win over and influence people the best with gestures of kindness and compassion.” – Chinese Proverb.
There are some prayers and fasting you may not need to do if you will learn to stay at peace and keep good relationships with people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind. Kindness and compassion are signs of faith. Let us make it a part of us to be polite when we speak and not make rude remarks and bring people down with our words at every opportunity we get, especially with our families, friends and colleagues. Being kind and generous, even to those who hate and continue to work against you, does not necessarily mean you are stupid, it shows you have a deeper understanding of life than they do.
Quote: One catches more flies with honey than with vinegar – Western Proverb.
Prophetic Decree: Receive wisdom to keep valuable relationships, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. I receive wisdom to live at peace with my neighbours, in Jesus name.
2. Any altar speaking limitation in my neighborhood, be destroyed, in Jesus name.
3. I receive the wisdom of the serpent, and the gentility of a dove in keeping valuable relationships, in Jesus name.
4. I come against the spirit of disunity in the name of Jesus.
5. I rebuke powers standing between me and my destiny relationships, in Jesus mighty name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136
