A Prayer for Confessing Annoyance and Crying for Gentleness

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Prov. 12:16

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Prov. 19:11

     Dear Lord Jesus, these Scriptures confront my lousy attitude and convict me today. Far from overlooking offenses, I’m having a hard time not rehearsing them. It’s like I just had laser surgery and I can see other people’s stuff with 20-10 precision. I’m annoyed, irritated and wound up tight. I have been for several weeks. Please gentle and soften my edgy and crusty heart, by your grace and for your glory.

     I can offer explanations, but I won’t make excuses. I just come to you as the knotted mess that I am, grateful that you, Jesus, are the consummate “over-looker.” It’s not that you don’t take my annoying ways seriously, because you do; but you never deal with me according to my sins or reward me according to my iniquity. You are filled with mercy, compassion and patience. You convict me without condemning me. You humble me without humiliating me. You don’t just tell me what to do, you give me yourself. What would I do without you Jesus?

     This side of glorification, I don’t really expect to be annoyance, irritation and touchiness-free. But certainly the gospel is big enough to help me show my annoyance less quickly, less often, and less harmfully; and certainly the gospel is powerful enough to help me repent quicker when I do act foolishly—taking irritants and offenses way too seriously.

     I repent of keeping a record of annoying things done around me or to me. I repent of repeating these things to others. I repent of not repenting.

     Lord Jesus, please help me be far more aware of when I’m the irritant in someone’s day, week or month. Convict me when my sense of humor reveals a lack of kindness; when my poor manners show a lack of love; when my words and body language tear down more than they build up. Help me give other people fewer reasons to pray this very prayer I offer today. So very Amen I pray, in your powerful and holy name.

Scotty Smith

Pastor for Preaching

Christ Community Church

1215 Hillsboro Rd.

Franklin, TN  37069

615-468-2230

It's good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9