"Love Your Enemies!" Part 2

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

Forgiveness is NOT a feeling but a CHOICE to OBEY God’s Word! Forgiveness DOES NOT excuse what the person did or did not do; forgiveness frees you and brings you out of bondage!! Forgiveness puts people in God’s hands and let Him deal with them since He is the true and righteous Judge!! Although you might not “feel” like forgiving the one or ones who hurt you, do it because Jesus says to do it in Matthew 6:15:

“But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses” (biblegateway.com – AMP – Amplified Bible.

It is NOT easy loving your enemies; trust me I know – especially when you have to look at that person often!! Plus, sometimes what happens is when one person hurts you, it triggers all the other hurts from your past!! Why? Because since you never dealt with ALL those other hurts, you are carrying around a bunch of unnecessary baggage which is silently destroying your life; those hurts are operating in stealth mode in your life slowly destroying you – especially destroying your relationships!! That what the devil does; uses others to offend us (they somehow opens the door to the enemy) to cause division and discord among the brethren and God hates this!! Proverbs 6:16-19 says:

“¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:

¹⁷ A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

¹⁹ A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren” (biblegateway.com – AMP – Amplified Bible.

Click here for PDF version of "Love Your Enemies" Part 2

May God bless you and keep you,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks