That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:10

Have you a rival now? Is there somebody bugging you? Is there somebody needling you? Is there somebody trying to get your goat—or have they already got your goat? If you think long and hard about this, and you dwell on it, it could destroy you. There’s no guarantee that the devil will overreach himself if we become full of self-pity and develop a judgmental spirit. It is then that the devil will be saying, “Oh, it’s working! It’s working!” Don’t let that happen.

God trusts us in letting us have an enemy so that if we respond in the right way, we will be so much better off.

Satan works through our enemies to defeat us, but if we react without grieving the Holy Spirit, then the result will be that it will refine us, not defeat us.

Has it occurred to you that God would want reconciliation between you and your enemy? The heart of God is reconciliation. Here are three principles of reconciliation.

First, if reconciliation is delayed—that there is no chance of reconciliation at the moment—then be sure it’s not your fault. Paul said, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18). Do everything that you can do to embrace that person.

Second, your enemy today might be your friend tomorrow. Be sure, therefore, that you show such love to that person now, for you may become friends later.

Third, pray for your enemy. How do you pray for them? You must not pray that God will deal with them or punish them, but you must pray for them to be blessed.

Excerpted from The Thorn in the Flesh (Charisma House, 2004).

God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. —2 Chronicles 32:31

When Jesus said, “Love your enemies,” He assumed that we would have one or more, and most people do. Sadly, many, if not most of them, will be from within the community of faith. Certainly Jesus assumed this, and nothing has really changed. Much persecution comes from those who claim to believe in God as much as you do. And yet the issues between you may not be theological. You enemy may simply not like you!

The origin of such enmity may be explained almost entirely in terms of the flesh. For example, your enemy may just not be able to cope with your being the way you are or with your being on a particular side of a certain question or issue. It is usually no fault of your own.

They could be angry with God for blessing you or for putting you where you are. You have that prestigious job. It pays well. You are admired by your boss and the people in your office. God has blessed you with certain talents and gifts. There will always be someone who will be jealous and seek to bring you down. If you have been blessed with a good reputation, do not be surprised if someone resents it. Unfortunately, your enemy doesn’t know that he or she is probably actually angry with God.

The ultimate reason you and I have an enemy is that it fits God’s purpose. Why? It is what we need. It helps to humble us lest we take ourselves too seriously. An enemy shows us what we are like.

So don’t be angry with your enemy! It is God who is at work on your heart!

Excerpted from Total Forgiveness (Charisma House, 2002).

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. —Psalm 103:12

When we say, “I’m sorry,” and mean it, that’s enough for God. He doesn’t beat us black and blue and require us to go on a thirty-day fast to supplement Christ’s atonement. He convicts us of sin to get our attention, but having done that, He wants us to move forward.

All accusations regarding confessed sin come from the devil. When you know you have applied 1 John 1:9, and you still sense an accusing voice over the past failure, mark it down: That voice did not come from your heavenly Father. It did not come from Jesus. It did not come from the Holy Spirit. It came from your enemy, the devil, who works either as a roaring lion to scare or as an angel to deceive—or both (1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:14). Never forget, perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

The sweet consequence of not keeping a record of all wrongs is that we let go of the past and its effect on the present. We cast our care on God and rely on Him to restore the wasted years and to cause everything to turn out for good. We find ourselves, almost miraculously, accepting ourselves as we are (just as God does) with all our failures (just as God does), knowing all the while our potential to make more mistakes. God never becomes disillusioned with us; He loves us and knows us inside out.

Having forgiven others, it is time to forgive yourself. That is exactly what God wants of you and me. It is long overdue: let the past be past … at last.

Excerpted from Total Forgiveness (Charisma House, 2002).

Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. … “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel. —Malachi 2:15-16

Here we meet one of the most important things God has said in relation to the family: “I hate divorce.” Why is this so relevant? We are living in a time when some newscasters, politicians, and many people who make headlines laugh at the family. The nuclear family, a husband, wife, and children, is God’s institution. God loves the family, and His Word teaches the sanctity and permanence of marriage. This is something Dad drummed into me, and it is something that we should be drumming into our children. I thank God for a father who used to say to me, “Son, marriage is for life.” Sometimes it made me afraid to go out with a girl, for I would find myself wondering if I wanted to marry her and be with her all my life. The idea of divorce was out of the question.

And that is what Malachi is saying here. Jesus allows divorce in the case of infidelity, and the apostle Paul adds the case of desertion. What God is saying here through Malachi is what pleases Him best.

In Malachi’s day this divine institution was being threatened just as it is today. It is my belief that the only hope for Britain, America, and the West at the present time, when marriage breakdown is bringing about a disintegration of the family and children grow up lacking sexual identity, is for fathers to be as strong as mine was. They would make a big difference, both as role models and through teaching. I believe that the lack of strong parenting, especially strong fathering, is one of the reasons for the ever-increasing homosexuality in the West, where it is even being taught in schools as a valid option. How that must grieve the heart of God. There is no hope for the family if this continues, and the only thing that will stop it is a massive turning to Christ. God’s way is right. It is integrity.

Excerpted from Between the Times (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 2003).

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. —Colossians 3:15

We show gratitude by respecting those God has put over us. Said Paul: “Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other” (1 Thess. 5:13). Moreover, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7).

Thanking God is manifested by doing good works such as helping when it is needed. The King James Version refers to the gift of “helps” or, in the New International Version, “those who are able to help others” (1 Cor. 12:28). This can include such things as visiting the sick, the widow, those in prison, or the helpless (James 1:27). It includes feeding the poor (James 2:6, 14) or giving someone a ride to church. It may mean doing things in your church that nobody wants to do: cleaning up, helping with flowers, whatever needs to be done, or whatever makes your pastor’s job easier and so that 20 percent of the people won’t be doing nearly all the work.

For what are you grateful? If you cannot think of things to show how thankful you are, take the time to make a “praise” list!

Here are some suggestions to begin with: (1) for salvation: God sending His Son to die on  a cross; (2) that He gave you faith; (3) your church—that person who had a hand in leading you to Christ; (4) your minister whose preaching and pastoring feeds your soul; (5) your job—your income; (6) your health; (7) the Bible; (8) what God is doing for you today and what He did for you yesterday. When you begin to count your blessings, you will see that the list is endless! For there is no end to the list by which we can demonstrate our gratitude to God.

Excerpted from Just Say Thanks! (Charisma House, 2005).

[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. —1 Corinthians 13:5

First Corinthians 13, the great love chapter of the Bible, is a perfect demonstration of the cause and effect of total forgiveness. The apex of this wonderful passage is the phrase found in verse 5: Love “keeps no record of wrongs.” The Greek word that is translated as “no record” is logizomai, which means to not reckon or impute. This word is important to Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith. For the person who believes, their faith is “credited” to them as righteousness (Rom. 4:5).

This is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 13:5. It is turned around in Romans 4:8, again using the same word: “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” Therefore, not to reckon, impute, or “count” the wrongs of a loved one is to do for that person what God does for us, namely, choose not to recognize their sin. In God’s sight our sin no longer exists. When we totally forgive someone, we too refuse to keep a record of their wrongs.

It must be clearly acknowledged that wrong was done, that evil took place. Total forgiveness obviously sees the evil but chooses to erase it. Before a grudge becomes lodged in the heart, the offense must be willfully forgotten. Resentment must not be given an opportunity to set in. The love described in 1 Corinthians 13 can only come by following a lifestyle of total forgiveness.

Love is a choice. It is an act of the will. When we learn to forgive and practice forgiveness, He rewards us with an incredible peace and the witness of the Spirit in our hearts.

Excerpted from Total Forgiveness (Charisma House, 2002).

In this exclusive interview, Charisma Editor Marcus Yoars talks to Global Day of Prayer Founder Graham Power, who discusses the event held Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. Power reveals how the worldwide movement began—and whether it’s making a difference
today.

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A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. —Proverbs 15:1

Jesus asks, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:4). He is assuming we are rational, sensible people who would immediately see through the inconsistency of meddling in another’s affairs. The assumption is this: If we have no plank in our own eyes, it would not be unreasonable for us to offer help. But when we have a plank and still meddle, our fault is far worse than theirs. Meddling is always uninvited and almost always unwelcome.

What if someone meddles in your life? How do you respond? Most of us find it hard to respond in a way that pleases God. First, He calls us to maintain a sweet spirit. Never forget: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1).

Second, we are to agree with them. Usually there is a little bit of truth in what a critic will say to us about us. Even if you can’t find a way to agree, you can always say, “I see what you mean.”

Third, we should thank them. This will not only defuse their irritation, but it will also enable them to save face should they be up to no good. In addition, we will avoid making an enemy unnecessarily in the process.

What we must never do when being confronted is to defend ourselves or try to impress them with how good or right we are. We must never seek to punish or get even or make them look bad. Ask them to pray for you! But do it in a noncombative manner, never sarcastically. Confess sincerely, “I need all the help I can get.” The principles of total forgiveness should enable us to make friends, not lose them.

Excerpted from Total Forgiveness (Charisma House, 2002).

A California high school has ended a brick paver fundraising campaign after two women submitted Bible verses for their tributes.

Lou Ann Hart and Sheryl Caronna had contributed several hundred dollars to purchase the memorial brick pavers at Palm Desert High School. They chose to have their bricks engraved with Bible verses to go alongside dozens of other inspirational and commemorative bricks.

But when administrators noticed the women had submitted religious content, they decided to end the fundraising campaign and refund everyone’s money.

“Christians should be allowed to express themselves on public school campuses just like everyone else,” said David Cortman of the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian organization of attorneys who filed a lawsuit against the school district on the women’s behalf.

“It is cowardly to shut down everyone’s participation in this program simply out of animosity toward Christian speech. There is absolutely nothing unconstitutional about a Bible verse on a brick when a school opens up a program for anyone to express a personal message. The school could simply have allowed the Bible verses, but instead it chose to punish everyone.”

Cortman said the district-approved fundraising campaign had not put any limitations on the content of the pavers other than length.  

According to the ADF, the school accepted hundreds of other paver messages, including those quoting Mahatma Gandhi and other inspirational figures.

Residents in Joplin, Mo., continue to pick up the pieces
after a devastating EF5 tornado ripped through the town on May 22. The twister
was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. since 1947. More than 140 people lost
their lives.

With damage estimates expected to reach $3 billion, the
Joplin storm is on track to be one of the costliest tornadoes ever.

Many families lost everything they had in the deadly storm.
One of those families is C. Don Burke and his wife, Naomi. The couple serves as
Indian missions directors for the Pentecostal Church of God, which is
headquartered in Joplin.

The Burkes were renting a duplex off Connecticut Street and
were home when the storm hit. Don describes how the Lord protected them in the
video clip below.

The couple lost most of their household items in the storm.
The PCG has set up a special fund to help
them get back on their feet.