When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it. There will come a time, in many instances, when the person who hates you most, the person who has misused you most, the person who has gossiped about you most, the person who has spread false rumors about you most, there will come a time when you will have an opportunity to defeat that person. It might be in terms of a recommendation for a job; it might be in terms of helping that person to make some move in life. That's the time you must do it. That is the meaning of love. In the final analysis, love is not this sentimental something that we talk about. It's not merely an emotional something. Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems.
Father, thank You for the example of Jesus Who cried, Father forgive them on the cross. Lord, help us be freely and willingly to pray for forgiveness over those who are our enemies, and those - who for whatever reason dislike or try to harm us. Lord, we thank You that even the people in our lives who despise or use us, You have a divine purpose in Your perfect plan that their actions drive us back into Your arms of love, so that we may lift our enemies up to Your throne of grace in prayer asking for their forgiveness and salvation and releasing in us any pent-up hatred or bitterness that is so damaging to our souls and well-being. Forgive our enemies Lord and all those who have tried to hurt or harmed us. Look down in pity on all those who we term ‘enemies’ and give us the grace to show them the love of Christ in our actions and attitudes towards them. Keep our thoughts from becoming resentful or seeking revenge but rather release in our hearts the peace that only comes from casting all our cares on You, in Jesus name, Amen
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