16 replies to this topic

[CrabGrassAcres]

For me it is Luke 6:28 Bless those that curse you and pray for those that despitefully use you.

All I want to pray is "Lord make his house burn down! Do to him as he has done to me, seven times over! Curse him and break both his legs!"

I have really struggled with this lately. I won't go into detail. I'm sure you have enemies of your own and some of those live in the house with you. I have little patience with people who should know better and act like the devil himself. So 'bless' them? Not me! I want to curse them roundly. I want bad things to happen to them.

It has taken me a long time and much prayer and soul searching to be able to pray 'for' my enemy instead of 'against' him. BIG difference. Very likely, next time he comes against me, I'll have to battle thru it again, but hopefully it won't take as long or be as hard.

My Prayer for my enemy:
"Lord, please bless him with mercy, grace and truth. Please show him the way to true repentance and salvation. Let him be a light to the lost and salt in the earth. Let him be an example to all of your power to change hearts and forgive. Let him turn around and bless him with a great harvest for the Kingdom. Thankyou, in Jesus Name I pray, amen."

[CrabGrassAcres]

I understand that, Arby, and so does the Lord. He didn't say to feel it, He said to pray it. If you have to grit your teeth and say to Him "I forgive so and so but I don't want to. Lord help me to want to." then grit your teeth and say it. Eventually the feeling will follow.

[mom2one]

I'm glad this came up - I'm dealing with issues of a similar type. I have to ask for strength to keep the evil thoughts at bay. Most times I have them several times over before I can even ask for that strength.

I can say that I've been blessed with the knowledge that I cannot help everyone with every problem. They have to learn how to cope with whatever they are facing. All I can do is pray they find that help. The kicker for me is to realize that I can't help them before I stumble. And I do stumble. I'm grateful that I'm saved and can ask for help when I need it.

Sending love and hugs,
Pam

[CrabGrassAcres]

What is a lie?
It is saying, declaring that something that does not exist, in fact DOES exist, without the power to change what is not into what is by declaring it to be so.
God cannot lie, because when HE says something, then it becomes so.
Satan is a liar, because he has no power in his word to change what is not into what is.
God says "Light be" and light comes into existence where there was only darkness. The power is in His Word to change things. To create something out of nothing.
When He commands us to do something it is not a suggestion.
It is not something He expects us to do in our own power.
The command to us imparts the power to do what is commanded.
So, in faith, we speak the word given to us by God.
We declare, in faith, that we forgive, because God commanded us to forgive.
When we speak it, in obedience to the command, then God gives us the power to make it so.
The feeling of forgiveness comes after the declaration of forgiveness, not before.
It is only a lie if we do not appropriate, by an act of our will, the power of God to forgive.

[Darlene]

I understand what both of you are saying...CGA and arby.

CGA is right because it IS a step of faith when we are obedient to what our Father has declared we should do.

arby is right because where she is at with her understanding is very real and normal.

There have been times in my own complete honesty with God that I've stated the truth..."I know that You say I should "blahblahblah", and I know that I should want to "blahblahblah" but You know my heart and You know that's not how I feel. My heart DOES desire to be obedient to You because You are my Heavenly Father and I love You so please do the work in my heart that YOU desire to do"...

Only He can do the healing where others have damaged...He gives us the measure of faith we each have so it's good to ask for that to be increased.

I believe that true Christians are held to a higher standard. I wonder sometimes where some Christians are at in the their walk with the Lord that can injure others with abandon. And I wonder sometimes whether those that say they belong to Him, yet can do such damage to God's children, if they really are His children too.

I do know one thing though. Each one of us will some day see with a piercing clarity that will slay our own hearts, the truth of each action, each thought we've ever done or had. That thought sobers me. One day we'll stand before the judgment seat of Christ and while that will be a time when our Savior hands us the rewards of our faithfulness to Him, I believe it will also be a time when we will witness the times when our sin was more desireable than obedience...and the countless lost opportunities to have honored Him more.

That might not seem too important right now to some, but I know that it will be a heart wrenching regret someday.

[Stephanie]

My Grandma Had a saying. "Each person is required to walk in the truth that has been revealed to them."

She wasn't offering a way to compromise the truth, not by any means. Instead, she was offering a way to understand how we may be at different places along the journey.

In my own walk with the Lord I have grown to the strong conviction that...
"God's Word and what it says is more real than what I see or hear or feel!"

So, for instance when I might be feeling abandoned (and I certainly have before), I remind myself that the Scriptures say He will never abandon me. So, even though my feelings seem to indicate otherwise, I make a choice to believe God's Word over my own feelings. There is nothing more true that what God says.

I can not be persuaded otherwise, now. But, I had to come to that point, as a result of of my own experiences with God. I love the old saying, 'A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument."

CGA, has experienced the results of Praying for her enemy. Arby has not crossed that bridge yet, but will be able to do so one day as she continues to grow in her faith. I personally do pretty good with sincerely praying for people who wrong me but, still struggle with obeying that command when someone hurts one of my children. It is a struggle and yet it is required. These two ingredients result in growth.

Doing what I don't feel because I must requires an enormous amount of trust.

[themartianchick]

My Grandma Had a saying. "Each person is required to walk in the truth that has been revealed to them."

She wasn't offering a way to compromise the truth, not by any means. Instead, she was offering a way to understand how we may be at different places along the journey.

In my own walk with the Lord I have grown to the strong conviction that...
"God's Word and what it says is more real than what I see or hear or feel!"

So, for instance when I might be feeling abandoned (and I certainly have before), I remind myself that the Scriptures say He will never abandon me. So, even though my feelings seem to indicate otherwise, I make a choice to believe God's Word over my own feelings. There is nothing more true that what God says.

I can not be persuaded otherwise, now. But, I had to come to that point, as a result of of my own experiences with God. I love the old saying, 'A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument."

CGA, has experienced the results of Praying for her enemy. Arby has not crossed that bridge yet, but will be able to do so one day as she continues to grow in her faith. I personally do pretty good with sincerely praying for people who wrong me but, still struggle with obeying that command when someone hurts one of my children. It is a struggle and yet it is required. These two ingredients result in growth.

Doing what I don't feel because I must requires an enormous amount of trust.

Your grandmother was very wise, Stephanie...And so is her grandaughter! For someone (like me) that struggles mightily to forgive, you've given me something to think about.

[CrabGrassAcres]

This just came to my email from Carter Conlan at Time Square Church. Some of you might find it uplifting.
http://www.tscnyc.or...m_my_Hands.html

[Cat]

This thread is going to appear a bit fragmented but it is as requested.

Each of us have had different experiences and so we react differently to different stresses. God understands the heart.

[chefddr]

For me it is Luke 6:28 Bless those that curse you and pray for those that despitefully use you.

All I want to pray is "Lord make his house burn down! Do to him as he has done to me, seven times over! Curse him and break both his legs!"

I have really struggled with this lately. I won't go into detail. I'm sure you have enemies of your own and some of those live in the house with you. I have little patience with people who should know better and act like the devil himself. So 'bless' them? Not me! I want to curse them roundly. I want bad things to happen to them.

It has taken me a long time and much prayer and soul searching to be able to pray 'for' my enemy instead of 'against' him. BIG difference. Very likely, next time he comes against me, I'll have to battle thru it again, but hopefully it won't take as long or be as hard.

My Prayer for my enemy:
"Lord, please bless him with mercy, grace and truth. Please show him the way to true repentance and salvation. Let him be a light to the lost and salt in the earth. Let him be an example to all of your power to change hearts and forgive. Let him turn around and bless him with a great harvest for the Kingdom. Thankyou, in Jesus Name I pray, amen."

I do know how this feels, my huband is athiest and I struggle daily with his "don't do this prep stuff, we don't have the money and you are paranoid" yada yada. The only thing I know how to do is pray for him. I love your prayer for your "enemy" and I know God will answer all of our prayers, if not in our lifetime, in HIS time.

[themartianchick]

My answer to an atheist would be:

Since you don't believe that there is God or other spiritual being that is looking out for us, that is all the more reason to prep! By your own belief system, there will be no rescue other than the one that we provide for ourselves. I suppose that you could rely on FEMA, the Red Cross, etc... However, I don't want to be in someone else's shelter. I don't want to have my family exposed to wall-to-wall unwashed bodies and germs. I'd rather be able to sleep in my own bed and eat the foods that I want to eat.

As a man, you should want to know that you have provided well for your family and that we are protected from the many indignities that occur in shelters. Prepping both supplies and knowledge can go a long ways in keeping us safe.

[CrabGrassAcres]

Dianne, I hope it helps you. Keep praying. God will hear and save your husband, only believe.

[kathy003]

I struggle with this also crab grass acres. I have a husband who is so kind, who really does bless and pray for people who do him and his family wrong, I wish I could be so faithful in his following. I pray to become more like this. And, it works for a while, then I fall down. Not as bad as I used to, but I still fall, then I have to pray for forgiveness and get back on the right track.

Over the winter I was having a conversation with a friend. She said something to me that really stuck in my mind. She said other people's actions are not enough for me to sacrifice my daily Salvation to Jesus Christ. This has probably helped me the most.

For the last few months I have taken a bible scripture and studied it for a week. I have studied it until I change my thoughts and therefore changing my actions. I think i am going to take this bible scripture from Luke and have it for my weekly reading.

[CrabGrassAcres]

Kathy, you have a wise friend. Why lose your own forgiveness by refusing to forgive others? That is what I ask myself when I don't want to forgive.

[chefddr]

My answer to an atheist would be:

Since you don't believe that there is God or other spiritual being that is looking out for us, that is all the more reason to prep! By your own belief system, there will be no rescue other than the one that we provide for ourselves. I suppose that you could rely on FEMA, the Red Cross, etc... However, I don't want to be in someone else's shelter. I don't want to have my family exposed to wall-to-wall unwashed bodies and germs. I'd rather be able to sleep in my own bed and eat the foods that I want to eat.

As a man, you should want to know that you have provided well for your family and that we are protected from the many indignities that occur in shelters. Prepping both supplies and knowledge can go a long ways in keeping us safe.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS, I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO USE THIS!!!! His response then will be (and I can hear him now) I ain't "providing" nothin for those no good brats of yours! They will be on their own!" In which case I can feel free to reply, "3 against one, my kids come FIRST if the shtf and IF you don't want to include them in our plans to keep my family together, you can LEAVE!"

YES, THERE IS NO LOVE LOST ON MY KIDS WITH THIS ONE BUT HE DOESN'T REALIZE THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY CHOOSE MY KIDS OVER HIM IF SHTF AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO PROTECT THEM TOO!

Edited by chefddr, 07 May 2012 - 01:51 PM.

[chefddr]

Dianne, I hope it helps you. Keep praying. God will hear and save your husband, only believe.

AMEN CRABGRASSACRES!! ALL I CAN DO IS KEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVING AND FORGIVING TOO. EVEN MY 16 YR OLD SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT "SCOTT NEVER FORGIVES AND PUTS THINGS BEHIND HIM" I CAN SEE A LOT OF GOOD IN THIS MAN I MARRIED, I WOULDN'T HAVE MARRIED HIM OTHERWISE, BUT MY YOUNGEST ASKED ME YESTERDAY, "MOM, HOW COULD YOU HAVE MARRIED HIM? HE'S SOOOO MEAN".
THERE IS NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND MY KIDS, PLAINLY SAID, AND HE WILL ADMIT TO THIS, BUT NEVER DID BEFORE WE MARRIED, HE HATES MY KIDS. I KNEW HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THEM AND ALL THEIR CRAP, BUT HATE A KID? HAD I KNOWN HOW SERIOUS IT WAS BEFORE WE MARRIED, I WOULDN'T HAVE MARRIED HIM AT ALL, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM. THERE ARE DAYS I FEEL LIKE THE FILLING OF THE OREO COOKIE!

[Jeepers]

TMC, that response is indeed brilliant. If God won't help provide for him and his family then he darn well better step up and do it himself.

Chef, I'm always glad to hear when a mother puts her children, regardless of age, before a man. Sure they will grow up and move away but they will always remember at least mom was always on their side and know they were loved.