Stronger than hate 💪🏼

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.— Matthew 5:44 Love Is Stronger by Ruth & Patrick Schwenk from Faith Forward Family Devotional But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. — Matthew 5:44   Do you know someone who is hard to love? Maybe it’s someone who has a different personality or a friend who did something or said something that was hurtful to you. How do you treat this person? Sometimes we like to get even. If people hurt us, we might want to hurt them back. Or we can be tempted to just end a friendship. To stay away from someone or say things behind someone’s back. But Jesus teaches us a different way — a better way. Jesus taught that love is powerful. Love can melt someone’s hard heart. It can change someone’s attitude. Love can overcome evil. It’s easy to love those who love us but far more powerful and beautiful to love the unlovable. We can pray for someone who has hurt us. We can do good to someone even if he or she has wronged us. We can respond with kind words. We can bless someone by loving him or her when the person doesn’t deserve it. This kind of love is not only powerful; it’s possible! How? Because this is exactly how God has loved us. Jesus says to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). And this love of God lives in us. KEY IDEA Treat others the way you want to be treated (Luke 6:31). How do you want to be treated by someone else? How do you like someone to talk to you? Jesus told us the best way to treat others, including our enemies, is the way we want to be treated! Following Jesus is about trusting what He says. It’s about believing God’s way of living is far better than our way of living! How will you love someone who is hard to love? Resist the temptation to get back at others. Instead, pray for them. Pray for your own heart. Pray that Jesus would help you love others the way He has loved you. LET’S DISCUSS TOGETHER What are ways that people try to get even? How can love change someone’s heart? In what ways has God treated us better than we deserve? LET’S PRAY TOGETHER Lord, teach us to love and forgive those who mistreat us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we can do good, be prayerful, and bless others. In Jesus’ name, amen. For Further Study: Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36 Excerpted with permission from Faith Forward Family Devotional by Ruth & Patrick Schwenk, copyright Patrick Schwenk and Ruth Schwenk. * * * Your Turn Forgiveness isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially with those who are difficult to love! Those who hurt us may not even be apologetic for their actions. But, we can still grant them forgiveness for our own sake and extend kindness to honor the Lord. Who are you praying for? Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you about choosing love ~Devotionals Daily   COMMENT

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Have you passed down your faith to your kids?   Save 40% off this beautiful family devotional Faith Forward Family Devotional: 100 Devotions by Ruth & Patrick Schwenk List Price: $16.99 Sale Price: $10.19 BUY NOW Including 100 devotions for families, Faith Forward Family Devotional by parenting authors Patrick and Ruth Schwenk equip you to raise faith-filled kids who know, love, and live for God. You've passed down to your kids your last name, your love, and maybe your sense of humor or favorite hobbies. But have you passed down the most important thing: your faith? Somewhere between diapers and sippy cups, piano lessons and soccer practice, dating and college searches, even the most well-intentioned family can lose sight of creating a God-centered home. As parents of four, pastor Patrick Schwenk and his wife, Ruth, of The Better Mom blog, understand the challenges—and importance—of raising faith-filled kids. In Faith Forward Family Devotional, Patrick and Ruth help you pass on your faith with devotions you can do at your own pace as a family. Each devotion features a Bible passage, a teaching that's applicable for kids of any age, key ideas to learn about God and His character, questions to spark family discussion, and a prayer. Faith Forward Family Devotional is aimed primarily at families of kids ages 8–12 but also includes ideas for activities for younger children and recommendations for further study for older kids, so the whole family can join in the devotional gathering. Faith Forward Family Devotional helps you grow closer to your kids as they grow closer to God. Whatever season of parenting you are in, sharing this devotional time together will help your children nourish a faith that lasts a lifetime.   Take a closer look... Learn more and save... Plus, save 50% off this devotional for moms  Settle My Soul: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus by Karen Ehman & Ruth Schwenk List Price: $18.99 Sale Price: $9.50 (50% off) In just a few minutes out of your day, you can connect with God, set aside your busyness and worries, center your thoughts on Him and His Word, and restore your peace of mind. Each of the 100 devotions in Settle My Soul includes a brief but meaningful devotional message, applicable scripture, guided prayer, and reflection questions. Throughout the book you'll also find journaling pages for deeper reflection. BUY NOW Take a closer look... *Sale ends 03/31/20. Free U.S. shipping on orders over $25 (excluding Hawaii and Alaska).

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