“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” Eph. 6:7
Dear Jesus, of all traps easy to fall into, being too impacted by people’s response is the most daily and deadly. When we primarily think, say, and do stuff horizontally (transactionally—for a human response), rather than vertically (for your glory), it never pans out well. In fact, it’s a form of idolatry, and all idols ultimately fail us
Jesus, hear our prayer. We’d love to live 10 times more vertically than horizontally. Get us on the right relational axis. Intensify our awareness of your acceptance of us, affection for us, and delight in us. Overwhelm us with your everlasting love and unfailing kindness. We want to live “smitten” with your beauty and bounty, Jesus. Restore our first-awareness of Gospel freedom, and renew our first-love for yourself.
Then free us to love and serve people, as unto you—whether our kindness is acknowledged, reciprocated, or ignored. Help us to break the cycle of living as affirmation junkies, rejection “phobiacts,” and relational pragmatists. Help us to take back the power we’ve given certain people to either ruin our day, or “fill our love tank.” That’s not a power any mortal deserves.
Jesus, we long for the Day when we will be made perfect in love (1 John 3:1-3). Until that Day, keep toppling our people idols by the riches of your grace and wonders of your love. So Very Amen.