Series: Love
Love Covers
Proverbs 10:12 ESV
Solomon, the author of Proverbs 10 was not only wise, his wisdom was intuitive and lasting. King Solomon knew and understood the human condition and the results of our actions.
Proverbs 10:12 tells us, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
This proverbs seems pretty clear and straightforward so I have to wonder if hatred begets hatred, why would anyone want to spread hatred?
Do you see where I’m coming from? The truth is, I do not understand hatred. I’ve been tested by teams of psychologists (Seminary required that) because they knew pastors and spiritual directors need to understand themselves before they would begin to understand and help others.
Every psychologist warned that I am naive to the max.
When I was confronted with that truth I was aghast in the beginning, but as time wore on and I sat with my own Spiritual Director I came to understand loving like a child loves isn’t a bad thing.
It’s just something I need to be aware of as I deal with everyday life, and hatred is a fact in everyday life.
There are people who don’t wish the best for others.
There are people who plot and plan to win no matter the cost.
There are people who don’t care don’t love and want to win at any cost.
Hatred begets hatred for them.
So what about those people who really have a desire to be like Jesus?
There are people who really desire love. How do they deal with hatred and strife and evil? I came to the conclusion that there is no one time answer except love. Each person who wants to love like Jesus loves can turn to Jesus as many times as they need even if it’s minute by minute or second by second.
That’s how I became a prayer.
We also always have to remember that God gave us a great helper. I mean a really great helper. And (I think it’s because I am naive like a child) God sent a group of wonderful Spirit filled believers to care for me and teach me how to recognize the presence of evil and the presence of the Spirit of God.
The gift God gave so I could SEE made it so I can see and discern everything, even the unseen.
If someone enters a room who is evil God rings bells in my head and alerts me of the presence of evil.
In that same manner, if someone really good come in a sense of peace and love fill the room.
The struggle I had was in accepting the difference. Years ago the older wiser believers who had practiced discernment for years helped me and taught me to see the difference.
While I was learning, this group of experienced believers took me to a gathering in Kansas City, Missouri. They told me to alert them if I noticed any spiritual changes. I didn’t know quite what to expect but I agreed.
Then the moment we got out of the car I sensed the presence of evil. It was really strong. It was so strong that I started to shake and cry. I grabbed one of them and they told me they sensed it as well and so we began to pray for God’s protection over us. I could instantly feel an invisible bubble (barrier) between us and the evil.
When we entered the building where the meeting was being held, everything instantly changed. I sensed peace and comfort all around us. Then when we entered the worship area I saw angels protecting the altar area. I had never seen angels like these angels. They were huge creatures and a great sense of peace came from them.
My friends smiled because they knew it was the first time I’d ever seen warring angels.
I will never forget that day.
The feeling and sense of the power of God was everywhere.
After that day I read everything I could find about angels. Billy Graham had written a book, “Angels, God’s Secret Agents” years before and I read it over and over again.
What I experienced that night and the book helped me to understand the fullness of God’s love and protection. I knew I did not need to be afraid anymore because now I knew I only had to ask and a host of angels with the Holy Spirit would protect me and my children with God’s everlasting love.
We have the power to pray protection that overcomes evil every second of every day. We do not need to be in the room or the town or the region to pray protection over someone else.
Yes…while hatred begets hatred, the truth is love begets love and for love and we only need to ask for protection to reside in order for God to surround us and our loved ones with love.
Spiritual Practice: Love
Ask God to flood you and yours with love and protection.
In God, Deborah
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