Positive Thinking-Get Your Week Started Off Right!

Love is one of the most powerful emotions that a person can radiate. The Lord is absolute love (1 John 4:8) and that is demonstrated throughout the entire Word of God. Loving someone begins to become difficult when: you’ve been hurt, when you’ve been offended in some way, when you’ve been taken advantage of, when you’ve been cheated on or abused, and so many other reasons. It is in those moments that the damaging emotion of hatred begins to peak its ugly head.

It is so hard to show love to someone that wants nothing more than to watch you fail. The only way that you can overcome those negative feelings that want to develop in your heart is if you allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in you to help you transform your way of thinking. It’s about renewing your entire mind-set, Romans 12:2. This was one of the most difficult things for me to do when I was a new believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I couldn’t understand why I had to show love towards someone that was mean, nasty, and intentionally malicious. 

The Lord had to deal with me on the condition of my heart. The Word of God makes it significantly clear on how we are to treat the people that have offended us:

• Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
• Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
• Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

When you have the ability to quickly forgive, it prevents any adverse emotions from developing in your heart that can lead to strongholds. I learned over the years walking with the Lord that life is spiritual and when you can see things in that lens it will change how you handle situations. The person that is exhibiting that spiteful attitude, saying those offensive things, and being disrespectful is not that person but the demonic influence behind that person using them to get under your skin.

This is why the Lord is so adamant about His children choosing to show love above hate. Hatred opens the door to the enemy inviting other adverse emotions that will eventually affect you mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. One way that I have been able to overcome strong emotions that want me to retaliate when I am offended is by getting into the Lord’s Word. I also bring every negative though that the enemy tries to plant into my mind into captivity, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

Use this week to take an inventory of your heart. If someone were to describe you to someone else would words like loving, caring, understanding, compassionate, or thoughtful be included in that description? If not, ask yourself why?

Below I am going to list some helpful scriptures that you can meditate on regarding love!