Jesus says “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Mat 5:44.
While we know in our head that this is a command from God it is so far removed from the way the world works that most of us struggle with it. It’s taken me 30 years to move from wanting to murder an enemy to now praying for them. When we have been seriously harmed by another human being our flesh always wants to take revenge. But Jesus says, “It is mine to avenge,” (Deut 32:35; Romans 12:19). Christ hears all our prayers (Rev 12:3; Rev 6:10), and He is the One who will dish out punishment to the person who harms a member of His church without repenting.
So why not give this a go…
1: Be honest with yourself if you hold hatred or a grievance toward someone else.
2: Be honest with God about how you truly feel and why.
3: Ask God to help you hand-over (for-give) all evil intentions and thoughts to Him.
4: Ask God to help you to forgive (this doesn’t mean to say that what’s been done to you is OK). Once you reach this point you will find freedom.
5: Start praying for your persecutor. When you do this you actually stop Satan in his tracks. But your anger and hatred toward your persecutor actually empowers Satan to continue working through them. So, pray for your enemies.
……..”As a result you will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you are suffering.
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled,” 2 Thess 1: 5-7
About Pastor Julie
I’m passionate about the church – building believers up in their faith, to be all God intended them to be; and I’m passionate about sharing the love and hope of Jesus with people who don’t know Him yet.