Isaiah 41:10-13 KJV “FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I AM WITH THEE: be not dismayed; for I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; yea, I WILL HELP THEE; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. [11] Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. [12] Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: THEY THAT WAR AGAINST THEE SHALL BE AS NOTHING, and as a thing of nought. [13] For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

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What encouraging promises from God!😊 Who can be against us if God be for us?😊 (Romans 8:31) True believers are hated by ALL. Don’t believe me? Hopefully you’ll believe Jesus’ words:

Matthew 10:22 HCSB “YOU WILL BE HATED BY EVERYONE because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.”

Everyone means EVERYONE. All Means ALL. How good it is to view our trials properly, and grow to the point where we enjoy being hated for the name of Jesus Christ.😊 We must adopt the attitude encouraged by Jesus, the apostle Paul, and the apostle Peter:

Matthew 5:10-12 NIV “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “BLESSED ARE YOU when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [12] REJOICE AND BE GLAD, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. ” Therefore I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE GLADLY ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT CHRIST’S POWER MAY REST ON ME. [10] 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.”

1 Peter 4:14 ESV “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, YOU ARE BLESSED, because THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTS UPON YOU.”

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It’s all too easy to lose sight of how blessed we are when we’re being attacked for serving God.

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Jesus teaches us to focus on what our sufferings for Him mean; we are blessed, the spirit of God Himself rests on us, the kingdom of heaven is ours!😃 We tend to focus on how our trials make us feel. Of course it hurts to be mistreated for Jesus’ name. But when this happens God wants us to proactively and prayerfully shift our minds on just how blessed we are to be partakers in the sufferings of Christ and cast our burdens on Him. (1 Peter 5:7) It’s all too easy to lose sight of how blessed we are when we’re being attacked for serving God. I hope this article encourages you in that respect. Know just how special you are to God, and the priveledge we have to suffer persecution for His name. In a very little while this will all be over with. And those who contend so hard against us (who do not repent) will be as nothing God says.

Romans 8:15‭-‬17 ESV “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

1 Peter 4:12‭-‬13 ESV “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But REJOICE insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

Please share this with a friend😊