Coming off of Mother’s Day weekend in the U.S.A. I hope that everyone was able to reflect, treasure moments, and feel/show the love on that dedicated day for Moms. If you missed my blog highlighting Mother’s Day, have a look. It’s an encouragement just for you, for men and women. On today, I want to share that you have the power and the free-will to choose to walk a different path. It may not be easy but you do have a choice.
Today is 5.12.21 and Today, let’s talk Matthew 5:12
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Matthew 5:15 KJV
Waking up this morning. I was led by the spirit to acknowledge this word. I would have never in my own will thought to pull this text on this day. I’m a believer that who God chooses to use and how he chooses to do something is completely and utterly in his power. Perhaps I was led to this scripture on today because of my own past experiences or perhaps someone else needs to know that as Christian believers, those who are called by God, those who exemplify the spirit of God are attacked the hardest simply because of your purity in faith and your choice to serve a living God. Count it all joy. My choice to walk in love is bigger than words, it’s action that I choose to take. It can be challenging and has been for me with some but I believe in walking in the example that you teach and therefore, you love, you show mercy, and you show kindness even when it is not being reciprocated.
The sting of hatred is easiest to overcome when you realize that it’s not you that the person doesn’t like, it’s what and who you stand for. Count it all joy simply because their is so much more to this life and there is too much to be thankful for. Rejoice, because through your persecution there is a place that God wants to take you. From a personal experience he has been teaching me how to face rejection and resentment, knowing that it is part of a Christian life. Even in writing this, I’m recalling thoughts of how I have been persecuted and even now I realize that I never stopped believing in God and can recall how he blessed me and my family abundantly even through what I was going through. God will not stop blessing you just because someone doesn’t like you. Isn’t that great news!
There are some people that will carry hatred into their heart until their grave and then, then they carry it……….
Life, your life is important and meaningful.
It was my truest delight to read the hand-made cards that my kids made for me for mother’s day. Oh the joy I get from reading what’s in their hearts. My husband, children, siblings, and mother of course made it an unforgettable memory. I was able to not only spend it with those that I cherish but I was able to consume the love that was around me and understand that it’s important to love those that love you, that embrace you, that shows up for you. It is just as important to give that same love to others. Give that person a chance to show up for you in your life genuinely. Life, your life is important and meaningful. It caused to me to think about the women that play a huge role in my life that are still present or gone on to glory that I have the best strength, courage, and love instilled in me from the very beginning. The biggest of it all is that God knew that you and I would face persecution, so all the strength, courage, and love that we have within us came from a very special place that was created by God to help us get through the woes that we face. We will face people that will attempt to steal our joy but even through that he still has a promise for us. “….For great is your reward in heaven.”
No Cross, No Crown
When the spirit of God is in your life, the enemy knows it. He feels threatened, intimidated, and weak. Weak people draw their strength off of making others feel bad, often attempting to hurt others by words and actions. Make a choice to not respond to ignorance, hate, or strife. Make a choice to rise above and take the high road. I often have to remind myself that as a Christian, this dedication, this choice, this belief, this sweet abundance comes with many blessings and it also comes with hurt or affliction. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19) You will be talked about, intentionally afflicted, and even criticized simply because of your heart for God but that doesn’t change God’s grace or favor in your life.
Take the high road
Have you ever had to take the high road? I am learning as God gives me another chance each day that there is always a different choice. People choose to do the things that they do. People choose to say what they want. As a people, God has given us the autonomy to make our own decisions and have that free will but it sometimes can be wasted, simply because of hate and grudges. Live the life you have showing love and mercy. True, there are some people that are miserable but if they want to, they can be delivered. Showing love and mercy means that you have to take the high road and allow God to work on the rest.
Just let it go
You know that a person may have purposely tried to attack your character and try your meekness and yet, you still decide to be better than that. It takes a lot of maturity and a lot of Jesus, for that. It also takes a lot of maturity to not allow words to affect you. Words can be harsh and hurtful but no cross, no crown is saying that as Christian believers we are going to go through some of the same persecution that Jesus went through but because we serve a living God he has already devoured the enemy and declared our path as victorious. So yes, people will talk about you, yes people will try to assassinate the very character that you have as a person, especially if you are doing right but that doesn’t change who God says you are and how he sees you. You are dearly loved by God. It’s important to know that on the other side of words that are said, there are also consequences because “…..people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou) For “what you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45) God has called us higher and besides, it’s always good to show the right example and be the bigger person. No one is perfect but you can always strive to do what’s right and for the right reasons. What choice led you to the path that you are on?
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