Hey all: How do I learn to love my enemies?

[Willa]

I had this happen, too, and nearly lost my job over it. I was working for the school district and was accused by a mother of being mean to children. She even went to the superintendent of schools over it. But I didn't know what would cause her to say such a thing or what I had done to cause this... So I asked God to vindicate me and reveal the truth. It was a very hard year. Eventually she went on TV and made hysterical paranoid accusations toward other people and they saw her for what she was. But it was awful to go through. Even some friends thought it must be true.

The only thing I can say is that Jesus suffered false accusation, too, and He is praying for you. Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdome of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil about you falsely for My Name's sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

And remember that Jesus loves and died for them, too.

Wait till someday when one of them needs a friend, and then show them kindness. That is the only thing I can suggest. I know it doesn't make you feel any better now. But remember that God loves you and is looking out for you.

[nebula]

Hi truth -

 

The first step to loving your enemies is to make the choice to forgive them. That isn't to say your feelings will change right away, but you can begin by confessing out loud, "Father, in Jesus' name, I chose to forgive [these people] for [the offense]. I confess Your truth that I should not be harboring hatred towards them. And so I ask You to bless them. Fill me with more of You that Your love may flow from me to them."

 

 

As for the the rest of the situation, remember this:

 

Revelation 12:11 - And they overcame him [the accuser of the brethren] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 

 

Prayers and blessings

[worshiper70]

First: Welcome to Worthy. You are in a good place by being here. Visit here as often as you can. Second: I have found for me, the closer I get to God, the more I love people. We are created in HIS image. So to see people is to see God. Even if they are not followers. God sends rain on the just and the3 unjust. So we should be mindful that even our "enemies" are created in HIS likeness. The Bible is where we renew our mind. This is very important. Ask God to renew your mind, then open the Bible and start to read, knowing that He is fulfilling His promise while you read. Pray for them. Earnest prayer will negate any wrong thinking toward these that persecute you. It may take a little time. But growth does not happen over night. I can only tell you these things because I struggle with them as well. We draw strength form others and God when we confess our faults to one another an pray for each other.  No matter what things look like, Know that you know that you are God's chosen and that He is excited each and every time you come into His Holy presence. God loves you and we do to! It IS going to get better!!

[truth10]

How do you overcome the anxiety you feel when you're around them?

[Littlelambseativy]

With God's strength not your own - Welcome to Worthy!

[Widor1]

First: Welcome to Worthy. You are in a good place by being here. Visit here as often as you can. Second: I have found for me, the closer I get to God, the more I love people. We are created in HIS image. So to see people is to see God. Even if they are not followers. God sends rain on the just and the3 unjust. So we should be mindful that even our "enemies" are created in HIS likeness. The Bible is where we renew our mind. This is very important. Ask God to renew your mind, then open the Bible and start to read, knowing that He is fulfilling His promise while you read. Pray for them. Earnest prayer will negate any wrong thinking toward these that persecute you. It may take a little time. But growth does not happen over night. I can only tell you these things because I struggle with them as well. We draw strength form others and God when we confess our faults to one another an pray for each other.  No matter what things look like, Know that you know that you are God's chosen and that He is excited each and every time you come into His Holy presence. God loves you and we do to! It IS going to get better!!

This is very good advice. To learn truth and love, we must find the source, which is God. The closer you are to Jesus, the more these things fade away and don't bother you as much (I'm speaking from my own experiences!). God desires all people to come back to Him. Every person on this earth was created in His image, and we must love them because God loves them, because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to everyone in the world. Keep praying for strength and an open heart, for yourself. And pray for your enemies to find Jesus and be reconciled!

 

Mat 5:43  "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 

Mat 5:44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 

Mat 5:45  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

Mat 5:46  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

Mat 5:47  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

Mat 5:48  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

[enoob57]

I can not imagine what it would be like for a heart that comes before Jesus wanting forgiveness

from Him-> yet holding unforgiveness of others who have wronged us!

John 8:12

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world.

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
NKJV

The light of life is simply the same reasoning God Himself uses... and if I ask from Him (Jesus)

and am not willing to give out that which I received- maybe I never received it to start with!

Love, Steven

[truth10]

I can not imagine what it would be like for a heart that comes before Jesus wanting forgiveness

from Him-> yet holding unforgiveness of others who have wronged us!

John 8:12

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world.

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

NKJV

The light of life is simply the same reasoning God Himself uses... and if I ask from Him (Jesus)

and am not willing to give out that which I received- maybe I never received it to start with!

Love, Steven

 

Forgiveness isn't my problem. I can and do forgive people, but it's feeling love towards them. I want to know how to feel real love towards them.

[enoob57]

 

I can not imagine what it would be like for a heart that comes before Jesus wanting forgiveness

from Him-> yet holding unforgiveness of others who have wronged us!

John 8:12

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world.

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

NKJV

The light of life is simply the same reasoning God Himself uses... and if I ask from Him (Jesus)

and am not willing to give out that which I received- maybe I never received it to start with!

Love, Steven

 

Forgiveness isn't my problem. I can and do forgive people, but it's feeling love towards them. I want to know how to feel real love towards them.

 

Then your prayers will not be hindered:

I do not know if you are spiritually born again... but will speak to you as if you are!  Remember being emptied of all that you were because God made you

able to see that it was worthless to Him? In that moment you came to Him and ask if He would give to you even though you had nothing to give back and

He did! That gift was a new life that can do nothing else but expel the love of God to others... what happens is we slip back into the old man, the old ways,

mostly because of the ease of living here as such; It is war and constant pressing to maintain a spiritual walk with God here and it wears us down and we

exchange true spirituality for less to ease this situation as if to rest -BUT- true continuance and rest is in prayer alone in the quiet with God! You must have

times where you get with Him and pour out your heart to Him-> for He will hear and realign your heart and thoughts so that His Spirit within you is unhindered

in the dispensing of God's Love to others- you, as all else around you, just become witnesses of a truly remarkable event of beauty and perfection that is in

the Love of God!  Love, Steven

[Littlelambseativy]

To be honest, do we all love our enemies or do we just tolerate them and try to avoid them? We forgive them, yes, but do we really love them?