To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies!
Luke 6:27
Luke 6:27
Love my enemies?
Really?
You mean those people who specifically set out to say and do things to hurt me?
You mean those people who call me names and judge everything I say and do?
You mean those people who hate me and everything I stand for?
(the people pleaser in me winced just typing these)
It's so much easier to love the people who love me.
But Jesus never asks us to do the easy.
He always challenges us to do more.
Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those
who curse you.
Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke 6:27b-28
He doesn't just ask us to love them.
He asks us to do good, bless, and pray for them.
What I had to reconcile in my heart and mind is that I can love
these people without loving what they do and say that hurts.
Jesus isn't asking me to love their words and actions.
He is calling me to love THEM.
This can be especially difficult when faced
with someone who hurts us over and over.
I don't believe Jesus is asking us to let them continuously hurt us.
We are told to guard our hearts.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
Sometimes the only way to guard your heart against another's words
is to remove the option for them to speak into your life.
Sometimes we have to love from afar.
We have two choices:
Throw up our hands in defeat
or lift our hands in prayer for them.
Today I choose to lift my hands and love.
Which do you choose?
What I had to reconcile in my heart and mind is that I can love
these people without loving what they do and say that hurts.
Jesus isn't asking me to love their words and actions.
He is calling me to love THEM.
This can be especially difficult when faced
with someone who hurts us over and over.
I don't believe Jesus is asking us to let them continuously hurt us.
We are told to guard our hearts.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
Sometimes the only way to guard your heart against another's words
is to remove the option for them to speak into your life.
Sometimes we have to love from afar.
We have two choices:
Throw up our hands in defeat
or lift our hands in prayer for them.
Today I choose to lift my hands and love.
Which do you choose?
Hi Wendy! I love my sister and my dad from afar. Unfortunately, these relationships are no longer based on trust. I have forgiven them (a long time ago) and they are not my enemies per say, but man can their words and actions cut deep. I still pray for these relationships to be redeemed as I love my dad and sister very much! They are both saved (praise the Lord) so I know God is working in them as I have seen small changes the past few years. Thanks for such a great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dionne! How heartbreaking it is when the difficult people to love are within our own family. Standing in prayer with you, friend, knowing and believing that God can redeem. Blessings.
DeleteYou are always so encouraging. I struggle with a loved one who is not capable of selfless love and, in turn, hurts me repeatedly. I am choosing to lift my hands in prayer today. Thank you.....marci
ReplyDeleteMarci I know that heartache and am lifting my hands with you today for God to do a mighty work in your relationship with your loved one. Blessings friend!
DeleteOuch. You are so right. We have choice.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy and it is painful Eileen and I know that God is working in me to help me through it. Grace. He offered it. I accepted it. And now I have to offer it as freely as I accepted it. Tall order and only with Him is it possible. Blessings!
DeleteExcellent post! I hope you don't mind if I add this to my Inspirational page Wendy?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Wendy! I would be honored. Blessings friend!
DeleteIt is so hard to do but so true!
ReplyDeleteJulie @ Naptime Review
It is hard Julie. So hard. Blessings!
DeleteLifting my hands with you, Wendy. Such a beautiful post. Did you know that Prov. 4:23 is where the name of my blog came from? The Wellspring...it is where my heart overflows :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Laura. You're so sweet. I didn't know that was your "blog verse" but it is one that keeps coming up for me. I absolutely LOVE reading your words that you share there. Blessings!
DeleteOh my ... forgive and forgive again... Love, bless and pray for our enemies. Lovely post with much truth :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathleen! Yes again and again. Blessings!
DeleteAmen!! Forgiveness is a choice. And one we may have to make over and over and over again. Interesting that I felt compelled to retweet from Women Of Faith earlier: "Forgiving your enemies doesn't help them; it helps you"
ReplyDeleteSo true Beckey! Once heard "Unforgiveness is poison that we drink and mistakenly expect it to hurt the other person." Blessings!
DeleteWhat a powerful post, my friend! I love what you said here: "What I had to reconcile in my heart and mind is that I can love these people without loving what they do and say that hurts. Jesus isn't asking me to love their words and actions. He is calling me to love THEM." How true. How TRUE!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat words!!
Thanks so much my sweet friend! Much love!
DeleteGreat post Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nichole! Blessings!
DeleteWonderful post! People often mistakenly think that to 'forgive' is the same as to 'condone.' That's where we get stuck. How do you forgive when the actions are not something we can condone? I've been through some things in my life that absolutely cannot be condoned. However, I've chosen to forgive and trust that God will deal with the situation. It's a process and often, I have to forgive over and over again before it really registers in my head...and heart.
ReplyDeleteSo very true...it is definitely a process and often a daily surrender to Him. Praying for you today. Blessings.
DeleteTHANK YOU * THANK YOU * THANK YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteYesterday, our immediate family was "hit" hard by another close family member. Tears, hurt, frustration, and sadness was all that was left. We have regrouped. Now we will heal and give God glory.
This post has come at the perfect time. So thank you again!
Oh Christine...so sorry for you and your family. I know how much that hurts. Know that I am praying for you right now. Praying for healing and reconciliation. Blessings.
DeleteI can not even tell you how much this speaks to me. I think about this often when I think about some of my family members. The relationships are SO difficult! This is such a wonderful reminder for me to love love and love no matter what. And to SHOW love no matter what. Thank you so much for your encouragement!
ReplyDeleteI so know your heart in this friend. You just never expect to have that with family members. Praying for you as you love on your family. Blessings!
DeleteSister, you rock my socks off! I love this post, so greatful for you. Thank you for linking up to His Voice!!
ReplyDeleteLove you much sister!
Delete