Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 6
William Law claims that extraordinary intercession for the person who triggered your resentment is a “certain way” to prevent uncharitable temper—and that either your devotion destroys your temper or your temper destroys your devotion; what specific relational situation in your life tests that claim, and what would “the greatest degree of contrariety” in prayer sound like there?
Another way to ask: William Law says praying strongly for the person you resent will either kill your bad attitude or your bad attitude will kill your prayers. What relationship in your life puts that to the test, and what would it sound like to pray for them in the exact opposite way of what you feel?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript teaches that when resentment begins, the believer should turn immediately to focused prayer for that person, because genuine intercession and ill temper cannot coexist for long. The transcript does not name the reader’s specific situation, but it implies “contrary” prayer would ask for that person’s real welfare and blessing rather than vindication.
- William Law is quoted: when resentment or contempt first rises, we should “have recourse… to a more particular and extraordinary intercession” for that person.
- He calls it “a certain way to prevent the growth of such uncharitable temper.”
- Law says pray “to the greatest degree of contrariety to that temper,” meaning directly against your resentment.
- Key line: “Such devotion must necessarily destroy your tempers or be itself destroyed by them.”
- Law adds: “You cannot possibly have any ill temper… to a man for whose welfare you are so concerned as to be his advocate with God in private.”