Have you noticed, it is easier to love someone who thinks great about you than like someone who thinks you are of no good? The words of people have profound affect on our hearts, no matter what.
There is a deep need within all of us, to be loved and accepted by people around us. This need makes us curious to know how people feel about us. And this knowledge about what people think about us further sets us on a journey of emotions.
It’s amazing how deeply your respect for an individual shifts the moment you know their negative opinion about you!
Why are Words So Powerful?
Words have life in them and also the power to destroy. Let us not forget that this world that we live in came into being with the spoken Words of God. The battle of Genesis also began with the tricky words of satan.
However words have as much power on you as you let them have. If someone calls you worthless and if you know your true worth, then the words they speak over you must bounce off you. However an insecure heart feels the need to defend itself. [ClickToTweet] To defend yourself comes from the desire to prove yourself.
Wounded pride is the deepest scar of an insecure heart.
Look at Jesus
It’s amazing how Jesus wouldn’t let the opinion of people affect Him. John 2:23-25 says, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing. But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”
Now it is not enough that you just back off and walk away. We are taught by our Master to love the very ones that mock and look down upon us.
To be like our Master, we must learn to love unconditionally!
When Jesus was being mocked at the cross as He was dying for our sins, He prayed to the Father, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus was simply following what He had taught them, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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.” Matt 5:44,45
It’s easy to ignore and walk away from those that hurt you. However God wants you to love and pray for them.
Today remember you are above all the lies of the enemy, (…and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Eph 2:6) so then right now take into captive every thought that the enemy sows into your head to discourage you! (2 Cor 10:5)
Praying for those who hurt you, increases the love in your heart for them. A wholesome love is an unconditional one. [ClickToTweet] Don’t believe me? Look to the cross. Yes I know there’s no love in this world that competes with the love on the cross, but that’s what we are called to be, to be like Him. To lay ourselves down is to shine Jesus brightly through us! [ClickToTweet]
So would you discuss? Was there a time you found it very hard to forgive someone? How have you practised forgiving ‘and loving’? Share your experiences here on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.