Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
The Power of Kindness
"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." - Proverbs 25:21-22
Proverbs 25:21-22 summarizes a radical approach to dealing with one's enemies, steeped in ancient wisdom and divine instruction. The thought of returning good to one's enemies was groundbreaking in a culture where retribution was the norm. It reflects God's call to rise above human instinct to a higher standard of love and mercy.
This principle is well-illustrated in biblical history through Joseph's dealings with his brothers. In Genesis 45, despite being betrayed and severely harmed by his brothers, Joseph chose to forgive them and provide for them during a time of famine. These acts brought healing to his family and demonstrated God's grace and transformative power through kindness.
Today, many of us face situations where showing kindness to those who have wronged us seems impossible or difficult. However, Proverbs 25:21-22 encourages us to respond with compassion instead of retaliation. By extending kindness to our adversaries, we go against our natural inclinations and open the door to possibilities for restoration and reconciliation.
Beloved, consider how you might respond with kindness and love if conflict or tension exists in your life or relationships. By doing so, you reflect God's love for yourself and open the door to the possibility of change within yourself and others as you forgive and come alongside your adversaries. I encourage you to take on this challenge, knowing that God honors acts of grace and richly blesses them.
Pray with Me:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the commandment to love You and others. Forgive us for allowing unnecessary tension and stress to rule our interactions with others. May we have the mind of Christ to meet the needs of our adversaries and be used by You to break the cycle of hatred and reflect the love of Christ. May the Holy Spirit guide our actions and testify to the strength of kindness and the power of forgiveness that fosters peace in our relationships. In Jesus name, Amen.
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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