Not Easy?
 
 
On Facebook today this post: " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,
all your might and the second is like it, love your neighbor as your self. #noteasy" This got me to thinking about the task of loving all the people that God tells us to love. We are commanded to love our neighbor, but who are our neighbors? Some neighbors are pretty easy to love I suppose, but He isn't just talking about the people next door who let you borrow a cup of sugar, feed your dog, or babysit your kids is He? 
 
Neighbors are our entire neighborhood, our city, our state, our nation, the world... EVERYBODY. Some of them are even enemies. Uh-oh, are you feeling the love now? God has them covered too. In case any of us should ask, "If my neighbor is my enemy do I have to love them?"  
 
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
 
Yeah, you gotta love'em too, which is NOT EASY!  But did you know that God doesn't call us to do things that He doesn't equip us for? He doesn't put more on us than we can bear. His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. As we bless those who curse, do good to those who hate, and pray for those who use and persecute - things change!
 
 
There is power in prayer. If today you feel as if you just can't take it anymore. Pray. If you don't understand why you are having to go through this.  Pray.  If you just can't find any love in your heart for someone. Pray.  Prayer makes "not so easy" things easier.
 
 
jbp