How Can I Overcome My Feelings Of Dislike For

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

I just wanted to share this . . .

From the

[Openly Curious]

The dislike that you feel for the individual in question can be turned into compassion if you keep in mind all God has done for you.

This line touched my heart as I read it as one needs "compassion" and "understanding" when they are going through troubles so they can get the godly counsel that they need in order to overcome. I have found this true in my own life and I am so thankful to those in which I can trust to confide in and know afterwards it is going to be okay as they strengthen me in the Lord during times of weaknesses on my part and my relationship with God can continue to further and grow as a result. And I want to thank all of those personally here at worthy who have shown me this kind of love for it has meant more than I have words to say and can express.

May we all be more loving and less judgmental . . .

:emot-highfive: :24: :24: :emot-heartbeat: :emot-heartbeat: :emot-heartbeat:

Great post

OC

[Oh Hamburgers!]

Good post, If you are ever having trouble with trying to differentiate the sin from the sinner, just think of the sinner like a smoker, with the sin being the smoking (no offense here smokers, just making an analogy!)

You can be best friends with a smoker, yet hate the smell of smoke. Just be a friend to the smoker, and when he/she begins to smoke, go somewhere else until he/she is done. If your friend asks you why you leave, just tell them you dislike smoking!

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

Good post, If you are ever having trouble with trying to differentiate the sin from the sinner, just think of the sinner like a smoker, with the sin being the smoking (no offense here smokers, just making an analogy!)

You can be best friends with a smoker, yet hate the smell of smoke. Just be a friend to the smoker, and when he/she begins to smoke, go somewhere else until he/she is done. If your friend asks you why you leave, just tell them you dislike smoking!

Great analogy!

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

*bump*

[RedeemedByHim]

I just wanted to share this . . .

From the

[Fiosh]

It was actually a Protestant Pastor who led me to internalize the verse from Romans "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". I had to finally admit to myself that I was no better than anyone else. God hates my sin as much as that of another. It sounds obvious, and for all my life I thought I really did understand that.

But I hadn't truly taken it into my heart and soul.

Try to imagine yourself as Peter. You are there in the courtyard being pressured by the crowd. Out of fear you curse and cry out, "I don't even know the man!" Just then Jesus comes thru the gate and looks at you. You are broken and in your grief realize you've denied not only your dear friend, but your Lord and King.

Only three days later, you are hiding with your friends in the Upper Room ---when Jesus appears. You shrink back into the shadows, ashamed and afraid. His eyes find you and He bids you to come to Him. You fall on your face before Him waiting for the condemnation you deserve. You feel a gentle hand lift you up and hold you close.

You are loved and forgiven.

Every time I sin, I deny my friend, my Lord and my King. Yet, each time I sin, He reached down and gently draws me to Him.

I am to be Jesus to the sinner.

Peace,

Fiosh

[RedeemedByHim]

It was actually a Protestant Pastor who led me to internalize the verse from Romans "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". I had to finally admit to myself that I was no better than anyone else. God hates my sin as much as that of another. It sounds obvious, and for all my life I thought I really did understand that.

But I hadn't truly taken it into my heart and soul.

Try to imagine yourself as Peter. You are there in the courtyard being pressured by the crowd. Out of fear you curse and cry out, "I don't even know the man!" Just then Jesus comes thru the gate and looks at you. You are broken and in your grief realize you've denied not only your dear friend, but your Lord and King.

Only three days later, you are hiding with your friends in the Upper Room ---when Jesus appears. You shrink back into the shadows, ashamed and afraid. His eyes find you and He bids you to come to Him. You fall on your face before Him waiting for the condemnation you deserve. You feel a gentle hand lift you up and hold you close.

You are loved and forgiven.

Every time I sin, I deny my friend, my Lord and my King. Yet, each time I sin, He reached down and gently draws me to Him.

I am to be Jesus to the sinner.

Peace,

Fiosh

Also, something that I do on a daily basis is ask God to let me see people through the eyes of Jesus. Let me love them with His love...it is amazing how your outlook at people changes...

[Fiosh]

It was actually a Protestant Pastor who led me to internalize the verse from Romans "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". I had to finally admit to myself that I was no better than anyone else. God hates my sin as much as that of another. It sounds obvious, and for all my life I thought I really did understand that.

But I hadn't truly taken it into my heart and soul.

Try to imagine yourself as Peter. You are there in the courtyard being pressured by the crowd. Out of fear you curse and cry out, "I don't even know the man!" Just then Jesus comes thru the gate and looks at you. You are broken and in your grief realize you've denied not only your dear friend, but your Lord and King.

Only three days later, you are hiding with your friends in the Upper Room ---when Jesus appears. You shrink back into the shadows, ashamed and afraid. His eyes find you and He bids you to come to Him. You fall on your face before Him waiting for the condemnation you deserve. You feel a gentle hand lift you up and hold you close.

You are loved and forgiven.

Every time I sin, I deny my friend, my Lord and my King. Yet, each time I sin, He reached down and gently draws me to Him.

I am to be Jesus to the sinner.

Peace,

Fiosh

Also, something that I do on a daily basis is ask God to let me see people through the eyes of Jesus. Let me love them with His love...it is amazing how your outlook at people changes...

Amen, sister!

[Masked Chris]

I just wanted to share this . . .

From the “Ask Joyce” section in Joyce Meyer’s February 2007 magazine issue of “Enjoying Everyday Life” . . .

Kyle asked . . .

How can I overcome my feelings of dislike for someone in sin and reach out to them in love?

Joyce answered . . .

I encourage you to reach out to this individual in faith, not because you do or don’t feel like it, but because you know it is the right thing to do. Love is a decision, not a feeling. It is also helpful to separate the sin from the sinner in your thinking. We can hate a person’s sin, but still love them. Pressing past our own personal feelings and doing what is right is what helps us mature spiritually. I always say that if we want to enjoy a victorious walk with God, we must choose to do what is right while it still feels wrong.

It is helpful to realize that we make our share of mistakes, and God reaches out to us in love long before we start responding with better behavior. Our feelings will prevent us from walking in love if we allow them to. Always remember to follow God’s Word, not your feelings. Love is not talk or theory, it is action. People are starving for unconditional love, and as believers in Jesus Christ, God equips us to be able to give it to them. His love is poured into our hearts, and we need to let it flow through us to other people.

When I am tempted to judge a person who is in sin or have a harsh attitude toward them, I often read Galatians 6:1-3, which reads as follows:

Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.

Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

God loved us and sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners (see Romans 5:8). He expects us to remember that and to keep an attitude toward sinners that will keep a door open for them to experience the love and forgiveness of God. The dislike that you feel for the individual in question can be turned into compassion if you keep in mind all God has done for you.

May we all be more loving and less judgmental . . .

:emot-partyblower: :emot-partyblower: :emot-partyblower: :emot-partyblower: :emot-partyblower: :emot-heartbeat:

I agree and disagree with Joyce. I agree that she says we need to love them.... but you were still hurt and that matters and matters deeply. I think the best thing to do is to give yourself some closure and go to the person and let them know [not in anger but still as honestly as you can] that you were hurt. Also though..... this may sound silly but I find I am most resentful when I place my needs in the hands of people who are unable to fulfill them. I find myself first having a deep ache.... and than go to a person instead of God.... and as soon as an imperfect person handles the problem wrong.... i come to resent them and hate them. It's a deep problem.... I think the biggest way to get over resentment and hurt is to simply place these things in the hand of God and realize that everyone is imperfect and incomplete just like you are. I know this is one of the biggest things for me..... when someone screws up I'm usually the first person you see to point it out. I hate this side of myself.... but I realize I do this because I treat myself the same way.... I'm always like "why do i make so many mistakes??" It's incredibly freeing to have an attitude of "I am a work in progress and so is everyone else.... we are not yet made perfect so I can release both them and myself of all of our mistakes."

Edited February 25, 2007 by Masked Chris