I enjoy the Message translation.  It expresses the scriptures in a very relate-able way.  Consider the following from 2 Corinthians 12:6-8:

⁶ If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.
^7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

Initially I had in mind to be upset, saddened or maybe even angered over something that happened today.  However, I thought of this passage of scripture and all the upset melted away.  One of the things I learned is that you simply cannot say you trust God and then think opportunities won't be presented for that trust to be proven.  Trust isn't trust until it is exercised!  Otherwise it is just a nice notion or a warm thought.

I like to be kind.  I go out of my way to be kind on purpose and to show people kindness that probably makes no sense.  I think of all of the kindness God has allowed to me in my life and all of the people that I admire most are kindhearted and they are givers.  Sometimes; however, we must accept that not everyone that we extend kindness to is in the place to receive it or appreciate it.  It doesn't mean we stop being kind.  I'm not kind because people appreciate it in me.  Nor was my kindness born out of folks being ready for it.  I trust that if I am kind that God will extend mercy toward me because I am doing what He called me to do.  I believe that as I show kindness God will extend favor toward me when I need it the most, but can't articulate it or when I myself don't seem to appreciate it.  One of my weaknesses is my kindness.

I will give anyone anything that I have.  My thought is that it's just a thing and if God gave me that thing He can and will give me another and if He doesn't I know that He can and perhaps it wasn't something that would enhance my life or it was for the person I gave it to and that's the end of that.

I believe that God operates in my weakness, submission and humility and to me sometimes showing kindness is purposefully suppressing my own will so that God's will can be seen, known and celebrated.  The enemy wants to upset you to the point that you focus on the upset, the harm, the pain, the flesh or anything other than God.  He wants us to react and mess up.  But I get what Paul is saying here.  I could have gotten upset when people took my kindness for weakness.  I could have responded poorly when my kindness wasn't returned.  Instead I choose to trust God, accept that my kindness is one of my weaknesses and let go and let God operate in it all.

My actions, reactions and responses are based upon God's Word

When I was younger I was so naive.  I believed that if I treated people well, that if I were a decent and honest person of integrity that others would give that back to me innately.  As I grew older and matured I began to see that some individuals simply lack the moral compass, trust in God's Word and even just the simple desire to do the right thing.  There are people who always want to scheme in an attempt to get ahead.  They want to try to con you, con God and con their way through life and even though you see the futility of their actions they simply do not.  They want to throw the stone and hide their hands.  Look up in they sky whistling like they aren't doing anything.  It must be very depressing not to trust God.  Frankly, I don't see how people make it without trusting in the Lord.

My choice to live for God as best I can isn't because I'm so good.  On the contrary, it is because He is so good.  The choice reflects my meager attempt to please God and to live like I believe He wants me to live.  Do I always get it right? NO!  Do I mess up and sometimes mess up knowingly!  YES!  Have I hurt others?  Have I talked about others?  Have I let myself and other people down?  Yes, yes and yes, but God forgives freely when we seek Him and when He finds us forgiving others.  He specifically intercedes for me with the Father and because I know that, I do want so much to do all I can to please Him.  We live in such an era of grace and favor; basking in the forgiveness of God through His son Jesus Christ.  Forgiveness is integral to our lifestyle.  It really is the only way that we have a right standing with God.

We cannot overlook the importance of forgiveness as a part of our Christian walk. 2 Corinthians 2:10 & 11 says: If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive [that one]; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of [and with the approval of] Christ, to keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. AMP

When I was younger and naive when someone would purposefully hurt me it was difficult to process.  I thought it had something to do with me personally so then I tried to be an even better person thinking that maybe if I can show them how good I can be they will not mistreat me again.  They will know not to hurt me again.  But the fact is that hurt people often hurt people.  It isn't personal and they will continue hurting you because they are simply toxic and need Jesus' healing touch.  Not only will they hurt you, but they hurt everyone they come into contact with because it is what they learned to do to deal with their personal issues. 

There are people who simply refuse to put their trust in the Lord for their blessings and to take care of them so they spend their short lives away trying to scam others.  They ignore the favor and the blessings of God.  They refuse to acknowledge that God is the source and the author of what they have.  Instead they would rather do dishonest things and live in dishonest ways relying on self to get gain.  The interesting thing is that they think no one knows that they are being underhanded.  Especially if you choose not to respond.

But the above referenced scripture entreats us to forgive in obedience to God's Word because our forgiveness removes Satan's ability to be successful.  When we forgive the hurt and the harm done we deflate the enemy and take away his power.  There are some people who live to "get over" on others.  They want to scam the government, they want to con the bill collector, they want to avoid paying their debts and in trying to "hook or crook" innocent bystanders may get hurt.  What I will tell you is that if this blog is feeling true for you it is because God sees all and He knows everything.  He does not slumber nor sleep.  Please do not take what someone else is doing personally and please do not allow your response to be based upon that person's actions or deeds.  Instead respond with love and show Jesus.  Let the Lord fight on your behalf because He is Jehovah Gibbor.  He will handle it.  He already has.  Forgive so that in God's grand plan you can be forgiven where you miss the mark and do not concern yourself about the scams and schemes that you can see clearly.  See it, forgive it, pray over it and give it to the Lord!

Today be on purpose with forgiving even the person who is trying to con you, scam you or hurt you. Pray for God to heal their hurt.  Pray for God to protect you and to provide for you.  Remember that God allowed you to see it so that you can pray and forgive.