The second key to victory in all spiritual battles is to “decide before hand that you are going to obey God…”4 Sometimes God’s direction can seem foolish to us. For instance, when my inexperience created a crisis in the first church I served, the Lord directed me to conduct a foot washing and communion service just for men. As I knelt before each man I apologized as I washed his feet. While I was washing feet Jesus was cleansing our hearts of all hurt and bitterness. By the time we gathered around the Lord’s Table our unity had been restored.
“‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.’”
–Matthew 5:24 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, help me to take responsibility for my actions and to do everything in my power to be reconciled with those I have offended. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.