To be successful you need
friends. To be very successful you need enemies – Ari Gold
Everyone has enemies. And we all
need them. If utilized strategically, enemies are capable of pushing you
towards bettering yourself. They’re useful because having enemies is a sign
you’re a force to be reckoned with and that you’re someone people are paying
attention to. I can testify that those who betray you may be
closer than you think. Some of my biggest foes have been ratchet family members
and former friends I openly let in my life without properly screening them
first. A handful of them have tried to get back in my good graces, and while
I’m forgiving, I’d be a fool to trust them again – especially when I know a
number of them have alliances with people who don’t like me and would try to
ruin me if given the chance. If you’re a discerning person you’ll be able to
tell the differences between allies and enemies in your life. One of my
toughest battles has been seeing someone’s spirit when meeting them. I’ve
seen both goodness and darkness in different people. The most difficult battles
are with people who are wicked inside, but it doesn’t show outwardly to everyone
else. It’s hard for me to unsee things like that. It’s critical to be mindful
of who you confide in, associate with, and the kind of information you share. Jesus
had 12 disciples and Judas was the one that flipped. Jesus already knew one of his own would betray him. However, Judas
was one of the enemies that led Christ to the cross to save lives, which ultimately
worked out for good. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Below, I’m
sharing strategies on how to do so.
·
Pray For Them - Matthew 5:44
reads, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you.” That’s easier said than done for many of us, but I’d like to challenge
you to approach your enemies with grace. I won’t pretend that it’s easy being
nice to people who aren’t nice to me, but because I’m a Christian, I’m held to
a higher standard. Honoring God also means doing the right thing, no matter how
horrible an enemy might be. One of the best things you can do is pray for them.
You never know how God will use an enemy in your life – He may even use someone
who doesn’t like you to bless you. You’ll see.
·
Kill Them With
Kindness
– I can tell when someone doesn’t like me no matter how much they smile and
pretend to. I can’t be fooled. The key is to play the game. Don’t allow your feelings to dictate your choices. Be
kind. You are capable of being nice to everyone. Try not to take every little
thing personal or be led by your emotions. Even if and when another person is
rude, being kind gives you an advantage because doing so reveals that you’re
capable of taking the high road no matter what.
·
When You Have the
Opportunity to Be Vengeful, Don’t - If given the chance to take vengeance
on an enemy, don’t. Opportunities will rise when you’ll get the upper hand and
the test of your character will be what you decide to do when given that power.
In my own life, I’ve had opportunities to get back at different people who’ve
wronged me and while I considered taking things into my own hands, I decided not
to proceed. If I proceed with revenge, God can’t. And He’s much better at it.