Posted on 02/13/2003 12:02:05 PM PST by WhatNot
I know a man who was imprisoned for his faith in Communist Romania. He was deprived of his property, his family, his everything. He was beaten, abused, and tortured. One day he had a dream. He was seated at a table with Josef Stalin, and Adolf Hitler, two of the dictators under whom he had suffered. He turned to Stalin and said, "I forgive you. And I even thank you for what you did. Because through it, the Lord worked good in my life." All of a sudden Stalin began fading away and disappeared.
Then he did the same with the next until they all disappeared and he was left sitting alone at the table. He woke up and learned a powerful truth. If you can forgive your enemy, he ceases to have any power over you. If you can love your enemy, your enemies will disappear. If you give thanks for your problems, you will have no problems to deal with, only blessings in disguise. Get rid of your enemies. But, do it God's way. Love them. Because when you love them and give thanks for your problems, the curse is broken, the problem is turned into a blessing, and the enemy fades away.
TODAY'S MISSION
Seek out the individual you need to forgive. Forgive that person, and thank God for His blessing over the situation. Bless your enemy and pray for him/her, that they may know the Lord.
When church camp was dismissed, a young camper went to the counselor. "How may I help you?" asked the counselor.
"I'd like to know what we learned at camp this week?"
"That's an odd question. Why do you want to know that?" asked the counselor.
"Well, when I get back home, my parents are going to ask me and this time I just wanted to make sure I got the right answer!"
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
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