March 12, 2026

Lord, we pray we will abandon critical thinking and return to loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. We pray we will grant others the same grace and mercy You give. Outrage can take a physical toll on our bodies. It also encourages judgement and a critical spirit. Once we decide God has whispered all the answers of the universe into our ear, we become something of an enemy of the people. It is challenging to realize we are to view others as God views them. To know He loves them just as He loves us. A critical spirit spreads pain and ineffective solutions.

The Bible instructs us to pray for government and government leaders. It is difficult to complain about someone for whom you are praying. Human nature and the freedom to express displeasure and disagreement have always been an American privilege. What happens to a culture when disdain and criticism attempt to erode a country’s sense of unity? Division takes over. Once division is established it becomes appropriate to find fault with everyone and everything. Critical spirit thinking spirals out of control. People needing safe words or protection from offensive neighbors and friends lose track of the many beliefs and values they share. Reforging relationships is tricky.

to us. Intolerance is not a smaller sin just because we change the target of those we condemn. Let us examine our own hearts, the motives we’ve embraced, and the experiences we have had that caused our beliefs to become entrenched. Lord, may we determine to listen to others, to hear their hearts and perhaps discover we have much in common.

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. James 4:11