Dear Friend,

Today, I want to bring your mind to a time in your life when you felt misjudged or underestimated. Recall how it felt. You knew that you were capable or that you deserved better, and it likely hurt your feelings or made you angry that no one else acknowledged that. Hold on to that feeling for a moment and try to remember a time when you possibly made someone feel that way. You see, prejudice, whether it’s over skin color, clothing choices, financial status, or intelligence, is incredibly damaging to the body of Christ. The Bible says in Galatians 3:28 that we are all one in Christ. The Bible has many wonderful verses to meditate on about this. Here are a few for you:

Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:1-2: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

James 4:11-12: Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Proverbs 31:8-9: Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Galatians 5:14: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Leviticus 19:15: “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.”

1 Peter 4:8-9: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Matthew 12:36-37: But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

1 Samuel 16:7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

After you meditate on these verses, I would like to guide you two separate prayers:

Lord, renew my heart and my mind to see and love others the way You love them. Forgive me for casting judgement on them, and bring restoration where I have brought strife. Thank You for Your love, grace, and mercy. Amen

Heavenly Father, give me Your supernatural grace and ability to forgive those that have wronged me with prejudice. Give me the strength to turn the other cheek and return love for hatred. Heal and renew my heart and mind. Thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning. Amen

In Christ’s love,
Rick Renner