The greatest transformations Jan and I have seen and experienced in almost 50 years of ministry are those that occurred when we blessed our enemies. Those blessings were not just a one-time expression. Some went on for years, while we continued to bless our enemies and pray for them, even as they opposed us and continued their derision.
The most powerful and impactful thing we can do is to bless our enemies. The devil wants us to focus on paybacks, displays of our wounded pride, defensive responses, and choices of separation. On some occasions, we even sent blessings in the form of financial support to our enemies when the Lord asked us to do so.
Choosing to bless our enemies until a restoration takes place keeps them in our thoughts and prayers, even when they have chosen to walk away from us in disgust. Looking back on those choices, we saw the restoration the Lord had planned for our relationship. Any other response to our enemies will be futile and not accomplish the will of God.
Jesus addressed this issue when He said, “I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (Luke 6: 27-28).
Is that an easy choice to make? No, because it impacts us emotionally. It is very difficult to do when people openly challenge and label us to support their actions.
If we want to see what Jesus plans to do with those who have chosen to be our enemies, our blessings will keep us dependent on the Lord and close enough to Him to see the fulfillment of what our blessings and prayers were designed to accomplish.
This is my first time to read one of your blogs, and it hits smack in what I am dealing with. I have 8 “step kids” from two marriages. I was never their “stepmom” they were all grown when I married their Dad.
None of the kids have a right relationship with the Lord. And since their Dad’s have passed, and, even before, they have chosen not to keep me in their lives. Some have been very ugly to me.
I have told each of them, “I made a commitment to your Dad to keep you in my prayers every day”, and I am doing just that. I pray they have a “right relationship with Jesus”. I keep the doors open, try to encourage them with every opportunity, but leave them alone otherwise, and allow God to do what only He can do.
Thank you for this encouragement.
Blessings always,
Carolyn Everard
Billings, MT