Show Me What Is Lovely

“Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, think on these things.” — from Philippians 4

One day John was worried about an Indian pastor. The pastor seemed to have grown cold toward God, and his church had grown cold too. So John went into his room to pray for him.

He knelt down and began, “O Father, thou knowest how cold —” But he never finished. He felt as if a finger was laid on his lips. And in his heart he heard God say, “He that toucheth him, toucheth the apple of mine eye.” The apple of the eye is the middle of the eye, the part we protect most carefully. God was saying, “This man is very precious to me.”

John was shocked. He had come to pray for the pastor, but he had started complaining about him to God instead. He cried out, “Forgive me, Father, in that I have been an accuser of the brethren before thee!”

Then he remembered the Bible verse at the top of this chapter, and he prayed a new prayer: “Father, show me what things are lovely and of good report in my brother’s life.”

Right away, John began to remember good things. The pastor had given up everything to follow Jesus, and his own family had treated him badly because of it. He had worked hard for years. He had helped people in his church to stop quarrelling. He was a good husband. John spent his whole prayer time thanking God for him.

Not long afterwards, John heard that God had greatly blessed the pastor, and that he was preaching again “with fire.” John’s friend believed it happened while John was thanking God for him.

When someone annoys us, it is easy to grumble about them, even to God. Next time, try asking God to show you something good about them, and then thank him for it.

Dear God, help me not to grumble about other people. Show me the good things in them, and help me to thank you for them. Amen.