“To you who are willing to listen, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (Luke 6:27-28).
Even when you’re completely in the right, if your reaction to hate and tyranny is your own self-righteous hate and vengeance, you’re both fighting for the same side, no matter how much you disagree. Loving, blessing, being kind, and praying for those who hate you isn’t just for them to have an experience with God’s grace, it’s to nurture and protect your ongoing one.
At every offense, there’s a temptation to fight it on the same ground, and with the same weapons it’s using against you. But if you take a step back, a step into God’s presence, you’ll see the most powerful weapons imaginable: faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, humility, and self-control—an arsenal that can protect your heart, and win over your enemy’s.
Equip Your Spirit 