How To Overcome The Temptation To Retaliate

4. Persevere through times of uncertainty but be assured that your difficult experience will make you either better or bitter. Remind yourself we receive great blessings for persevering. "You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:11,12)

5. Consider how the prophets of God worked through misunderstandings for the greater glory of God. Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn (for the lack of righteousness) for they shall be comforted." (Matt. 5:4) We should expect to receive no better treatment than the great prophets who persisted amidst terrible abuses with their own people.

6. If someone sins against you lovingly go and discuss the problem without being indignant. Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." (Matt. 18:15,16) It is better to privately deal with problems while they are small rather than wait until they get blown out of proportion.

7. Avoid the temptation to take your grievance before the ungodly in a legal setting. Paul writes, "If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" (I Cor. 6:1,2) For the sake of our Christian testimony it is better not to air our dirty laundry in public view.

8. Consult Godly counselors who may be able to intercede on your behalf. When you are at your wits end ask Godly leaders to mediate a conflict in a way that brings reconciliation, restoration and renewal to the greater and local body of Christ. Without the intervention of Godly elders many abusive situations are apt to continue unabated.

Praise God for His Enabling Power:

1. Envisioning His Plans, Employer, Exuberance, Enthusiasm, Enricher

2. Empowering You With His Energy

3. Equipping You With His Abilities

4. Enabling You to Do His Will

5. Encouraging You When Discouraged

6. Enlightening You With the Knowledge of His will, Eyes of your heart with hope, riches, power

7. Exalter from tragedy to triumphs

8. Expiator of sin, eraser of guilt, extricates from evil, sorrow and sin

9. Elevating You Above the Problems of the World, the Flesh and the Devil

10. Exchanging All Evil For Good, sadness with joy, defeat with victory

11. Expresser of your will, word & way

12. Emphasizing What is True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, Excellent, Admirable and Praise-worthy

13. Escaping Temptations

14. Experiencing His Deliverance

15. Everything Is Gained Through Precious Promises, Power & Person

16. Energizing You to Overcome Fatigue

17. Enough Grace to be Sufficient for Every Situation, Trial and Opportunity

18. Exceeding Abundant Prayer Answers

19. Empowering You to Accomplish All that Is Required; everything to me