Matthew 5:44 says: "But I say to you, love your enemies and bless the one who curses you, and do what is beautiful to the one who hates you, and pray over those who take you by force and persecute you." (Aramaic Bible)
Jesus knew that unless we are able to love our enemies and bless those that curse us (or hurt us, or wrong us...ect), we would never experience the freedom we have in Christ. And, what is more beautiful than actually PRAYING for those that we are hurt by, threatened by, are bitter toward, hate, despise, or just don't like? And, not just pray for them, but actually pray blessings on them? Praying for God to use them if they know God, or that they would find God and seek Him with all of their hearts if they don't?
What a different world this would be if Christians would actually do what Christ commanded and PRAY for their enemies! Oh God would You change our hearts to be like Yours! May we learn to pray for those who hurt us so we can be more like You.
It's amazing how much your heart for your enemies will change once you start praying for them. You begin to see them as imperfect human beings on their search for Meaning and Truth instead of who you think they should be.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Shelter
This morning I was reading in 2 Corinthians and when I got to verses 16-18, I was reminded of all the things Christ is, so I made a list to help remind me of Who He is:
Jesus You are my shelter
Jesus You calm the storm
Jesus You are my Refuge when I lay in the shadow of Your wings
Jesus You are my Light
Jesus You are the Truth
Jesus You are my Strength when I am weak
Jesus I need You, need You, more than anything
You are my Rock
You are my Deliverer
You are Forever with me.
I was encouraged, I hope and pray someone else out there is encouraged as well.
Lord, I pray these truths would stick with me today. It's so easy to forget all the things You've done for me. May someone be encouraged.
"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look a the troubles we see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 2:16-18 (NLT)
Jesus You are my shelter
Jesus You calm the storm
Jesus You are my Refuge when I lay in the shadow of Your wings
Jesus You are my Light
Jesus You are the Truth
Jesus You are my Strength when I am weak
Jesus I need You, need You, more than anything
You are my Rock
You are my Deliverer
You are Forever with me.
I was encouraged, I hope and pray someone else out there is encouraged as well.
Lord, I pray these truths would stick with me today. It's so easy to forget all the things You've done for me. May someone be encouraged.
"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look a the troubles we see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 2:16-18 (NLT)
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