17Bless What?
Matthew 5:44, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”
This can be a tough scripture to apply to our lives especially when we have grown up with statements like, “I don’t get mad; I get even.” We live in a culture that constantly purveys an attitude of, “I don’t have to put up with that.” Then the Lord says to pray for the people who hurt us. O, we can pray...for God to smite them blind and stupid! But we learn in recovery that our resentment poisons us more than the person we are resenting.
So here is God’s prescription. Bare in mind, He will walk beside you as you make this happen. Make a list of the people who have hurt you, mistreated you, or whom you just don’t like. Then pray for each by name and sincerely practice forgiving each one. Ask the Lord to bless them all. Tell the Lord that you want to mean this. Repel the thought that after all, you are “justified” in your resentment because of all the hurt they have caused.
Then speak kindly about these persons to others. (Or if you can’t muster kind words, trust the advice of Thumper from the Bambi movie, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.) This may in time break down barriers, but even if it doesn’t, the effect on you will be amazing. It will free you! It will open up the channel of God’s love through which spiritual power can flow into you.
Trust me. It’s worth it. Like they say in recovery, “Resentment is me drinking poison and hoping you die.” Resentment is toxic. If you find that you just can’t get past the offense, then maybe you would benefit by sitting in a Christian counselor’s office or from a phone session. You can respond to this email, and we can make that happen. Don’t stay stuck. Trust me as one who did for way too long. God’s freedom awaits you.