Listen carefully, discern humbly, and respond instead of dismissing it

Set it aside until it matches your preferences

Use your own judgment to decide whether God really meant it

Treat the message as important only if it is easy to accept

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and often missed what you are saying. I have followed my own way and need your mercy. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust you as my Lord and Savior. Lead me in your truth and make me yours. Amen.

Receive Jesus

Father, awaken your Church to recognize Jesus and to honor the word you send, even when it comes in unexpected ways. Save us from pride, from quick dismissal, and from using our preferences to silence your voice. Make us faithful when obedience is costly, and strengthen us to follow the rejected Messiah with courage, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Wake Up Your Church

Lord, give me eyes to notice your truth before I set it aside. Remove pride, defensiveness, and the habit of deciding in advance what you will say. Make me humble, alert, and willing to obey, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Eyes to Recognize Your Voice

Bring these thanks to God: that Jesus walked the road of suffering for us; that rejection did not stop his purpose; that his faithfulness gives hope to every suffering or misunderstood heart.

Thanks for the Suffering Savior

Pray for: people who feel unseen or dismissed; those who carry God's truth and are not welcomed; and humble hearts in listeners who need to recognize what God is saying.

For the Misunderstood and Rejected

Pray by naming one place where you usually dismiss hard truth too quickly, then ask God for humility to recognize his voice, courage to accept correction, and grace to treat others with honor.

Praying for a Teachable Heart

λέγω{LE-go###LEH-goh###I say} δὲ{DE###DEH###but} ὑμῖν{hee-MEEN###hee-MEEN###to you} ὅτι{HO-ti###HOH-tee###that} Ἠλίας{ee-LEE-as###ee-LEE-ahs###Elijah} ἤδη{EE-dee###EE-dee###already} ἦλθεν,{EEL-then###EEL-thehn###(he) came} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} οὐκ{OOK###OOK###not} ἐπέγνωσαν{e-PE-gno-san###eh-PEH-gnoh-sahn###they recognized} αὐτόν{af-TON###ahf-TOHN###him} ἀλλὰ{al-LA###ahl-LAH###but} ἐποίησαν{e-PEE-ee-san###eh-PEE-ee-sahn###they did} ἐν{EN###EHN###to} αὐτῷ{af-TO###ahf-TOH###him} ὅσα{HO-sa###HOH-sah###whatever} ἠθέλησαν·{ee-THE-lee-san###ee-THEH-lee-sahn###they wanted} οὕτως{HOO-tos###HOO-tohs###thus} καὶ{KE###KEH###also} ὁ{HO###HOH###the} υἱὸς{hee-OS###hee-OHS###Son of} τοῦ{TOO###TOO###(the)} ἀνθρώπου{an-THRO-poo###ahn-THROH-poo###Man} μέλλει{ME-lee###MEH-lee###(he) is about to} πάσχειν{PAS-kheen###PAHS-kheen###suffer} ὑπʼ{HEEP###HEEP###by} αὐτῶν.{af-TON###ahf-TOHN###them}

Matthew 17:12 — FormalTAB

More on this verse