27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from one who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Yesterday, going through my mind was to love those who don't love me, what good is it to just love those who love me, because even "sinners"(those who sin intentionally) love those who love them.
It is one of the hardest things for me to do. I can be nice and not repay evil for evil without a hitch. I have no mean intentions in my body, praise God I have enough to work on...but to actually care for and think of someone who doesn't love me and hurts me intentionally, well that is a lot to ask...but it's good. My day stayed on the theme of loving those who don't love me and I finished the day reading from a book by Debi Pearl. She wrote "...consider the other person's welfare; you need to be mindful of the other person's perspective and weakness. I often have little to no trouble thinking about the people I do not know and their weakness and perspective, granting them grace and making a million and one possible excuses for them in my mind. It is much harder however, to excuse what I know. If I know a person is often rude to others because I have witnessed it, then it is harder to let it slide if they appear to be rude to me. It is harder to trust someone I know has lied multiple times, even harder to smile around them and be joyful.
I have not had a breakthrough per say but I do realize that my joy should not be wrapped up in how I am treated by others.
James 1:2(HCSB)
Trials and Maturity
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,Hebrews 10:34 (HCSB)
34 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession(in Heaven)
The opportunity to lose my joy while trying to be joyful through any trial is ever evident but must be fought. We weren't given armor to have something to look fabulous in, it is a functional piece.
" We stand and lift up our hands for the joy of the Lord is our strength."
https://youtu.be/x_bEzvAHbvo
Lord thank You for the joy You pour out on us, help us to receive this joy and store it in our hearts and shine out for all to see Your glory and may our joy and strength serve as a testimony to You and Your goodness. In Jesus name, Amen,
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