He starts ignoring them and leaving them alone

He starts working alongside them to share the load

Treat the people under your care with gentleness and restraint

Use your position mainly to make your own life easier

Keep close to habits and friends that weaken self-control

Answer failure with harsher control and intimidation

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit my sin, my selfishness, and the ways I have hurt others. I turn from my sin and from every false way of living. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Forgive me, make me new, and lead me to live as your servant with a humble heart. Be my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Turn My Heart to You

Lord, revive your Church where we have grown harsh, careless, or self-indulgent. Give us clean hearts, sober minds, and tender care for the people you place under us. Make us faithful servants who protect, not harm, and who serve with joy, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive Your Church in Gentleness

Father, I confess the ways I have let pride, appetite, or frustration rule me. Grow in me gentleness, restraint, and a steady heart that treats others well. Teach me to serve faithfully when no one is watching, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Make Me Steady and Kind

Begin by naming one place where your words, temper, or habits have been too sharp or too indulgent. Ask God to slow you down, show you whom you affect, and give you one wise next step that will help you treat others with care and keep your own life under control.

Pray Before You Act in Frustration

Pray for parents, leaders, teachers, managers, and all who influence others. Ask God to guard them from using power selfishly, to make them compassionate and reliable, and to protect the people who depend on them.

For Those Who Influence Others

Pray for freedom from habits, friendships, and appetites that weaken self-control. Ask God to break patterns of excess, to give you wise companions, and to keep you from the path that harms others.

Freedom from Excess and Harm

καὶ{KE###KEH###and} ἄρξηται{AR-ksee-te###AHR-ksee-teh###he begins} τύπτειν{TEEP-teen###TEEP-teen###to beat} τοὺς{TOOS###TOOS###the} συνδούλους{seen-DOO-loos###seen-DOO-loos###fellow servants} ⸂αὐτοῦ,{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###his} ἐσθίῃ{es-THEE-ee###ehs-THEE-ee###he eats} δὲ{DE###DEH###(and)} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} πίνῃ⸃{PEE-nee###PEE-nee###he drinks} μετὰ{me-TA###meh-TAH###with} τῶν{TON###TOHN###the} μεθυόντων,{me-thee-ON-ton###meh-thee-ON-tohn###drunkards}

Matthew 24:49 — Source TextTAB

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