Jeremiah 31:27-32:44 / 1 Timothy 3 / Psalm 88 / Proverbs 25:20-22
Have you ever thought about what you would do if faced with an enemy? I have. Unfortunately, I do have those who despise me. Let me define the word despise before I go on with what I have to say. The word “despise” from Merriam Webster’s dictionary means: to look down on with disrespect or aversion, despised the weak or to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful.
I wish there were not those who saw me this way. Maybe you can relate. It’s hard to know there are those out there who have ill feelings toward you. I have worked hard to forgive those who fall into this category, sometimes I’ve had to forgive them several times.
One day the Lord asked me a question. He said, “If these who have treated you this way came to your door needing food, water or shelter, would you give it to them?” That was a hard question, because I sincerely do not want to spend any time in the presence of those who despise me. But if anyone who feels this way toward me came to my door in need, I would help them.
If they were a danger to my life, I would not necessarily invite them in, but I would send them away with food and water, or whatever I had to spare. I could not in good conscience send someone away hungry or thirsty. Why? Because no matter how someone has treated me, they are beloved imagers of God and I know it’s His heart that we care for one another.
Proverbs 25:21-22 TPT tells us this:Is your enemy hungry? Buy him lunch. Win him over with your kindness. Your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience and God will reward you with favor. In awakening our enemy’s conscience, we are moving his heart and exposing his shame. Perhaps that will cause repentance to come into his heart and he will be freed from the consequences of his actions and attitudes.
If repentance comes to our enemy, we will have done him a great service of love. I would be happy for that to happen for those who see themselves as my enemy. Some believe I should wish ill for them in return. One who has forgiven cannot do that. One who has forgiven has a heart to pray for blessing and favor on those who are mistreating her.
It’s taken me a long time to get to this point, so I understand if you are not quite there. I do, however, want to encourage you to ask God how He can help you walk through forgiving, loving, and praying for those who have hurt you. Remember, you are doing these things to bring freedom to your own heart. The other person may never know what you have accomplished.
Forgiveness is not for the other person; it is for you. If you want a heart right before God, and if you want the ability to move into blessing in your life and relationships, I implore you to forgive those who have hurt you. You will never regret having done so.
Then, if you have an opportunity, do something to bless that “enemy” and see if God would also change her heart. Who knows, maybe you can be the one who helps restore a clean heart to one who previously hated you. Not only should that make you feel good about what you’ve done, but that should also make you feel joyful that you have destroyed the enemy’s plan in your life.
I love destroying the enemy’s plans.
