how-to change other people, Rev-Bates

               Several years ago someone showed me a book titled "How To Change Other People." When I opened the book all the pages were blank. I think the author was trying to make a point but I think the subject deserves more than a book with blank pages.

                  I have received numerous prayer requests over the years from people who want me to pray with them to change other people. The requests may be something as simple as their desire for someone to be nicer to them or something as challenging as their desire for them to eliminate alcohol or drug addiction. I never doubt the sincerity of the people making the request as by and large each has their heart in the right place.

                  There are situations where we can confidently pray for other people and these are when people are experiencing conditions that we know they too would desire that we pray for them. An example of this is someone who is undergoing cancer treatment or some such similar health condition. The fact that they have chosen to take action, or treatment, for these conditions imply their consent for prayer. This consent is always absolutely necessary.

                  Now prayers for "personality" changes are pretty much a lost cause. I think of this as something like WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). None of the great healing practitioners ever prayed or treated for someone to have a personality change. Why? Because those people who may have personality issues that confound us, disturb us, frustrate us and even confuse us, are using their inherent power of choice to be who they are. My only advice in such situations is to change the way we look at other people. The truth is, there is Good in everything. That is, spiritual Good. The person that irritates us the most may be the person that is showing us the change we must make in ourselves.

Keep the Faith!
Rev-Bates
(Reverend Dr. Henry Lee Bates)



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