Wronged By Others

In life, sooner or later, we all encounter people who say they have our best interest at heart but really, they do not, or we encounter people who, for whatever reason, "have it out for us".  Many times we are blinded to the truth of how people truly feel about us or what their real motives are.  Recently, I have come to realize just how true this is and being raised in a very religious family, turned to God for guidance.  He knew exactly what I needed and has been revealing it to me over the past week.  Beginning on Sunday, I was presented with the word from my pastor.  My pastor stated that your best interest is not the primary concern of everyone you meet and even some people in your life who you believe "have your back" really don't.  They will try to convince you to stay in a relationship that you know is not worth holding on to, a relationship that is abusive in some form or fashion, they will try to convince you to buy a house or car that you know you are unable to afford and then when you get in a financial situation, they can not be found, they complain about having to help you, or they start pointing out all the things they think are wrong with you that caused you to get in the situation you are in.  In the words of my pastor, "it is at that time that you need to give those persons the benediction...May the Lord watch between me and thee because we are about to be absent, one from another."  There is no need to be rude or ugly to them because as my mother always taught us, "two wrongs don't make a right."  Today, my daily devotion summed it up and brought it home for me.  In the Bible, Luke 10:19 states "Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  Kenneth Copeland states in one of his books that when someone does you wrong, you should take the following three (3) steps.

• "Step 1: Identify the enemy! Don't waste your energy ranting and raving or plotting and scheming against people who cause you pain.  They're simply under the devil's influence.  Aim your spiritual ammunition at the right target.  It's the devil who's behind it all. Go after him."
• "Step 2: Fire! Once you've pointed your spiritual guns in the right direction, fire!  Hit the devil fast and furiously with the word of God.  Use the name of Jesus and the power that's been given you as a believer and bind the devil from doing you any further harm in that area."
• "Step 3: Pray the prayer of intercession. In Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus gives us these instructions: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."

With this in mind, I have made a decision to start afresh.  It is my goal to evaluate my various relationships, strengthen the good ones that have grown weak, and recite the benediction to those that cause me to be weak.

"Actions happen in heaven when someone prays on earth!"