Listen carefully and do not turn hostile toward the messenger

Accept the message only when it is easy to hear

Push back quickly so no one notices your discomfort

Ignore the person and keep following your own plan

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and resisted your truth. I turn from my sin and from every proud or hostile response in my heart. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord, and I ask you to lead my life with your mercy and peace. Receive me, forgive me, and make me yours. Amen.

Come to Jesus in Humility

Lord, revive your Church where we have grown hard, defensive, or quick to reject your word. Give us tender hearts to hear your servants, humble minds to receive correction, and courage to obey even when the message is costly. Let us not harm those you send, but welcome them with faith and honor, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Make Your Church Gentle and Teachable

Father, forgive me for the times I have pushed away hard truth, spoken harshly, or treated your correction like a threat. Turn my heart from pride to repentance, and teach me to receive your word with peace, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Turn My Heart from Hostility

Pray for: people who carry God's word and are misunderstood or opposed; courage to speak truth without fear; protection from harm, intimidation, and despair; and a church that receives faithful messengers with honor.

For Those You Send

Father, comfort those who have been harmed while trying to serve you. Heal fear, grief, and trauma, and surround them with your care and wise support, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Comfort the Wounded

Pause over one hard word you have heard this week. Thank God for the chance to learn, ask him for a calm and humble heart, and name one response of obedience you can take today.

A Prayer for a Teachable Response

καὶ{KE###KEH###And} λαβόντες{la-VON-tes###lah-VOHN-tes###having taken} οἱ{HEE###HEE###the} γεωργοὶ{ye-or-YEE###yeh-ohr-YEE###tenants} τοὺς{TOOS###TOOS###the} δούλους{DOO-loos###DOO-loos###servants} αὐτοῦ{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###his} ὃν{HON###HOHN###one} μὲν{MEN###MEHN###indeed} ἔδειραν,{E-dee-ran###EH-dee-rahn###they beat,} ὃν{HON###HOHN###another} δὲ{DE###DEH###but} ἀπέκτειναν,{a-PEK-tee-nan###ah-PEHK-tee-nahn###they killed,} ὃν{HON###HOHN###another} δὲ{DE###DEH###and} ἐλιθοβόλησαν.{e-li-tho-VO-lee-san###eh-li-thoh-VOH-lee-sahn###they stoned.}

Matthew 21:35 — FormalTAB

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