CHANGE YOUR TOOL

"Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too." - Will Smith

There was once a missionary with her husband and family after an unusually tiring stint of service. For the first time she was going to have a place of her own, a new, large town house-styled apartment-she'd been looking forward to this. A few months after some new neighbours moved in. The best word to describe them? Uncivilized. There was loud music, with a constant flow of obscenities always. They urinated in the front yard in broad daylight - totally disrupted her peace. She asked the Lord to help her be more loving but she got back disgust and rejection. The crisis came when she returned home to discover that her neighbours’ children had sprayed orange paint all over her beautiful patio - the walls, floors - everything! She was distraught and furious. She tried to pray but found herself crying out, “I cannot love them. I hate them!” Knowing she had to deal with the sin in her heart, she began to converse with the Lord in
her inner being. In her heart she questioned, “Lord, how do I put on love?” The only way she could picture it was like putting on a coat. So she chose to wrap herself in the love of God! As a result she began to experience a deeper life of Christ within her. She made a list of what she would do if she really loved her un- loving neighbors, then did what she had listed. She baked cookies, she offered to baby-sit for free, she invited the mother over for coffee - and the most beautiful thing happened! She began to know and understand them. She began to see that they were living under tremendous pressures. She began to love her “enemies.” She did good to them. She lent to them without expecting anything back. The day came when they moved - and she wept! An unnatural, unconventional love had captured her heart - a supernatural love - the love of Jesus.

Sometimes the most "impossible" thing to do is "love" those who hate you; those who desperately and deliberately try to upset and cause you pain. But, truthfully when we bring ourselves to literally show love to these people, we come to discover that love indeed is more powerful than hate. Hate is an emotion but, love, is God.

It's time we changed our philosophies and tools. We're in a battle where the only weapon that'll give us victory is LOVE. It's difficult, but we're asked to love those that persecute you...indeed God's wisdom is wiser than man's. Put on your love cloak today and watch your oppositions give way and crumble at your feet. Have a fantastic week ahead!