Guest Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 Mine is. My brothers are stone hearted atheists. I cannot bear their company and we generally find life a lot easier to keep well away from each other. They pour scorn on me being a Christian and treat me as if i am simple in the head I know i must pray for them. I do, daily. A few times i tried to tell them but am always met with a brick wall. I always feel derailed and awful inside after any contact with them. The only thing that connects us is that we have to cooperate in order to take care of our elderly ailing parents. When they are gone i look forward to never seeing my brothers again. Sadly. I have tried but accept failure. We truly cannot get on and have nothing else in common. Is it ok to pray for people you do not like and yet ask God to keep them away from you? It really bothers me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Hartono Posted September 27, 2020 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 785 Topics Per Day: 0.34 Content Count: 6,970 Content Per Day: 3.02 Reputation: 1,996 Days Won: 1 Joined: 02/15/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted September 27, 2020 Dont ask God to keep them away but to change their hearts so you can be together in Christ. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrior12 Posted September 27, 2020 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 55 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,465 Content Per Day: 0.88 Reputation: 1,540 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/05/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted September 27, 2020 As a believer, we MUST come to terms who is our enemy in this journey . The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy and he comes to put enmity between brother and sister. I think a reading through the book of Proverbs repeatedly a couple of times would see some real life lessons and how to avoid them. Sure, you have your disagreements now, but when they are not here, regrets kicks in. Do your best to be humble and wise in your engagements, but at the same time, not be a door mat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who me Posted September 27, 2020 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 17 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,328 Content Per Day: 1.70 Reputation: 1,702 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/27/2019 Status: Online Share Posted September 27, 2020 3 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Is it ok to pray for people you do not like and yet ask God to keep them away from you? It really bothers me. We are commanded to pray for the good of our enemies. You have no choice but to pray that they will be well physically, mentally and spiritually. Re talking to your brother's, three things. 1/ learn the questions, what do you believe about.... What evidence do you have for that belief? You have to be able t answer these questions with logical reasons, never say have faith or just believe. 2/ learn the facts behind the historical accuracy of the resurrection. Read lee strobes the case for Christ or watch Dr G Habermas on the resurrection. If you can give a reasoned explanation for your with you present hem with a challenge. 3/ remember people put up a front, they rarely show when they are shaken in there beliefs, so give them time and continue to pray for them. You could practice on unbelieving colleagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael37 Posted September 27, 2020 Group: Servant Followers: 21 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.11 Content Count: 7,123 Content Per Day: 3.29 Reputation: 5,043 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/05/2018 Status: Online Birthday: 09/23/1954 Share Posted September 27, 2020 3 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Mine is. My brothers are stone hearted atheists. I cannot bear their company and we generally find life a lot easier to keep well away from each other. They pour scorn on me being a Christian and treat me as if i am simple in the head I know i must pray for them. I do, daily. A few times i tried to tell them but am always met with a brick wall. I always feel derailed and awful inside after any contact with them. The only thing that connects us is that we have to cooperate in order to take care of our elderly ailing parents. When they are gone i look forward to never seeing my brothers again. Sadly. I have tried but accept failure. We truly cannot get on and have nothing else in common. Is it ok to pray for people you do not like and yet ask God to keep them away from you? It really bothers me. Hi Melinda. I think I have come across other posts about this issue, which I truly identify with. I like your use of the word "derailed" to describe how you feel and I remember many such experiences from my younger days. God gave me a revelation of being crowned like Christ with thorns pricking into my head and blood trickling from my wounds just like Him. Since then I have worn the scorn and debasing of others with dignity, just like Christ. Life dishes up disappointments and heartbreaks, but I have found that when I bury these in Christ the derailings and deprivations become irrelevant because He enables me to keep my footing as I climb above them to the high places of victorious faith. Habakkuk 3:19 paraphrased: He makes my feet like those of the deer in the high places of my victory in Christ. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted September 27, 2020 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,996 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,693 Content Per Day: 11.68 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted September 27, 2020 10 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Mine is. My brothers are stone hearted atheists. I cannot bear their company and we generally find life a lot easier to keep well away from each other. They pour scorn on me being a Christian and treat me as if i am simple in the head I know i must pray for them. I do, daily. A few times i tried to tell them but am always met with a brick wall. I always feel derailed and awful inside after any contact with them. The only thing that connects us is that we have to cooperate in order to take care of our elderly ailing parents. When they are gone i look forward to never seeing my brothers again. Sadly. I have tried but accept failure. We truly cannot get on and have nothing else in common. Is it ok to pray for people you do not like and yet ask God to keep them away from you? It really bothers me. Praying for your family is all that you need to do. If they are toxic people then your best choice is to stay away from them. There are many disfunctional families today. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 8 minutes ago, missmuffet said: Praying for your family is all that you need to do. If they are toxic people then your best choice is to stay away from them. There are many disfunctional families today. Mine beats the lot! I cannot see any benefit to inflicting them on myself. It shatters my peace of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted September 27, 2020 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,996 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,693 Content Per Day: 11.68 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted September 27, 2020 3 minutes ago, Melinda12 said: Mine beats the lot! I cannot see any benefit to inflicting them on myself. It shatters my peace of mind. It is sad isn't it? You need to tell God what you are feeling about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 2 hours ago, missmuffet said: It is sad isn't it? You need to tell God what you are feeling about this. I do, daily. I ask for mercy on their souls. They have no idea what danger awaits them when they die. You belong either to Jesus or the Devil. That is correct? The choice is our own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 27, 2020 Share Posted September 27, 2020 13 hours ago, Melinda12 said: Mine is. My brothers are stone hearted atheists. I cannot bear their company and we generally find life a lot easier to keep well away from each other. They pour scorn on me being a Christian and treat me as if i am simple in the head I know i must pray for them. I do, daily. A few times i tried to tell them but am always met with a brick wall. I always feel derailed and awful inside after any contact with them. The only thing that connects us is that we have to cooperate in order to take care of our elderly ailing parents. When they are gone i look forward to never seeing my brothers again. Sadly. I have tried but accept failure. We truly cannot get on and have nothing else in common. Is it ok to pray for people you do not like and yet ask God to keep them away from you? It really bothers me. I think many of us are in the same situation. My sister and I haven't spoken in many, many years. She's a Roman Catholic and married an atheist. He was welcomed into the family while my born-again wife and myself were not. My mother even wrote me out of her will because I rejected the pope as head of the church. By all means pray, but put it in God's hands. His will be done. You have my prayers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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