The post about God’s design for families after this post does leave questions on honoring your family if they were abusive.

I come from one of those abusive families, and I cover extensively as both a child and parent how to cope with the abusive family.

In advance of my next post, I want readers to understand what loving, and praying for your enemies truly means. I learned it years ago through counseling, and this year when I went to Death Valley to pray, reach God.

Praying for your enemies is truly that. It’s a heart decision to love God enough to choose His will first. It’s never an excusing of current or ongoing sin though.

Praying for my enemies started as a exercise in obedience. “Please forgive these family members, show them your mercy and help them repent so they can face judgement cleaned by Jesus, as I am.” My heart was totally, screw that, but as you wish God. It’s been months, same prayer every time I struggled with anger and the past. The prayer has never changed, word for word. The intention has….

You see, I love my dad I will never contact but pray for with a Christ like heart. I honor my father best this way.

I love a rapist who, if seen in person will have cops called immediately.

I love people who mock me undeserved, because God wills it and I mean it. Doesn’t mean we are friends as they continue to sin against me, but I’m going to love them for all I’m worth. I pray fevorently for their needs and that they are granted far more mercy than I’ve gotten.

I love the man who destroyed my family, sort of, I’m not perfect and God’s still working that out. I will stand for his new wife and daughters, because true love doesn’t excuse, if called upon to do so.

The only way to combat the evil of this world was given to us by Christ…

Pray, by force if need be, for your enemies. Your heart can catch up, and God will set you free.

It’s not an easy command to follow. In fact, I’ve learned it to be one of the hardest disciplines. Yet, it changes you. You learn you can be directly honest with hurt, but, rather the person cares to change their behavior or not, you love them. At times, especially for abusive as well as emeshed families, that means love at a safe distance. Always with a door open for reconciliation IF the situation is safe enough.

So, go love all your enemies, by force if need be at first, God will take you tiny act of obedience and grow it into abundant love, that keeps you safe.

Verses to follow, this was an off the top of my head, no Bible in hand piece of the book.