Matt. 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
You can't keep yourself from being persecuted in this life, unfortunately. There will always be people who talk about you and criticize you. But in the midst of being persecuted, you must keep your focus and continue strive to fulfill the will of God for your life. Here are some things to remember when being persecuted:
1. Walk in love (Ephesians 5:2)
2. Pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:44)
3. Don't render evil for evil (Romans 12:17; 1Thess 5:15; 1Pe 3:9)
4. Don't respond to your critics; in doing so you give them credentials
5. Keep your focus on the Lord and do what He tells you to do
6. Don't worry about it; cast the persecution on the Lord (2Peter 5:7)
7. Understand that no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)
8. Don't try to be an investigative reporter; digging into all the details of who said what -- let the Lord deal with it
9. Don't treat persecution as a Word from God
10. Build yourself up by praying in the spirit (1Cor 14:4; Jude 20)
By no means am I perfect and I haven't always dealt with persecution in the right way. But as I work through these things in my own life, hopefully these nuggets will help you in some way. Make it a wonderful day and use your words to build up and not tear down.
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