Walk In Love
WALK IN LOVE
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil (Luke 6:35 New King James Version).
One of the hardest things to do is to love our enemies, mainly because they are an enemy. Enemies are hostile, antagonistic and retaliatory toward each other. As Christians, we are not to retaliate, nor are we to continue to antagonize. We are to love and pray for them.
Jesus tells us, in Scripture, to love our enemies, to do good to them, to give to them and to not expect anything back in return. He tells us to pray for those who spitefully use us, and He reminds us that God is kind to all- saint and sinner, just and unjust. Though this may seem as though it’s not worth it, and therefore many don’t try it, God knows the hearts and motives of man. He knows how to change hearts, and He knows the reason behind why so and so are enemies. After a time, we may forget why we are enemies with someone else. We have tendencies to fall into routines of behaviors and habits, which will cause us to forget the reason behind the behavior. Jesus challenges us to behave differently from what we know- when we are struck, we strike back; when we are hurt, we hurt back; when we have things stolen, we steal back. Retaliation and vengeance is not for us, the Lord says it is His. Let us bring our hurts, our losses, and our enemies before His throne to let Him handle the situations.
When we pray for those we are foes with, when we lift up those who cause us pain, when we bring before God those who always seem to take and never give back, we open doors of trust in our lives. Trust that God will begin to speak to the hearts of those others, trust that God will work on our behalf, trust that God will reveal His truth to them. When we continue to press in and pray, we will begin to see results, it may not be all at once, but God will reveal the movement of His hand in His perfect time.
Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this blessing of another day! Thank You for Your mercy and grace, and we praise You for being our God! We praise and exalt Your holy and righteous name, we bless Your name!! Father, forgive us for not always following Your word. Forgive us for not being loving and merciful to our enemies. We pray that we can extend grace to them, that we don’t seek any kind of retribution. Father, we pray that you change the hearts of our foes, that You reveal Your truth to them. Father, may our adversities and dealings with our enemies cause us to grow and seek Your face more. May we have strength, wisdom and endurance when faced with our antagonists. Father, may You protect us from our enemies plots and schemes when they seek to do us harm. Father, change our hearts and our attitudes, teach us to be more Christ like and teach us to obey Your words. Lord, we commit this day and all we do in it to You for Your purpose. Give us the words to pray effectively for those that hurt, spite, use us. We love You Father! In Jesus’ wonderful name, Amen.
Today’s Attitude of Worship: We all have enemies, take time today to bring your foe before the Lord. If you personally interact with your foe, have a genuine attitude of love and graciousness towards that person today as you pray for them.
Additional Scriptures: Luke 6: 27-36; Matthew 5:44-45; Deuteronomy 32:35
In Christ’s Service,
Prudence