Today I’m doing something a little different. I’m sharing a Scripture challenge. Read the Scripture and ask the Lord to show you where you might need to apply it to your life. Today’s challenge is praying for your enemies, those that don’t like you or you don’t like. Ask God to show you how you can change your attitude toward them and how you think about them.
“But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred, invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].” (Luke 6:27-28 AMPC)
This is a truly hard one because our emotions become engaged, yet this is very necessary because God commanded it. If the Son of God could allow man to nail Him to a cross and still say, "Father, forgive them," then how can we not forgive or fail to walk in love. So far no one has nailed you, physically, to a cross!
"When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice." (Luke 23:33-34 NLT)
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you can give the gift of prayer and forgiveness to today.
"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part." (Matthew 6:15 MSG-)
No one, and nothing, is worth being cut off from God. He commands us to love and to forgive and we must be obedient.
Forgiveness is a choice! We can walk in unforgiveness, which disconnects us from our Abba, Father, stunts our spiritual growth, and stops our prayers from being answered or we can walk in forgiveness which keeps us securely connected to our Abba Father, allows us to continue growing in Him, (becoming more like Him), and assures us that our prayers will be answered. (As long as they are based on His Word and accompanied by faith.)
What’s your choice?
Be Encouraged! ❤
(Updated from the Vault of LWM)
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