Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 14!

JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


Do Not Gloat Over Your Enemy


"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove..." - Proverbs 24:17-18 NIV

When my husband, Joe, and I moved to our current home over 30 years ago, it didn't take long for us to realize that the neighborhood children were a bad influence on our young sons. When we told our boys that they were no longer allowed to spend time with these troublemakers, the retribution from our neighbors was swift and severe. So much damage was done to our house that our insurance company paid for us to get all new siding for it. On one of the occasions when my husband called the police for assistance, the mother of one of the perpetrators shouted to the officers, "They deserve it!" Even the police could not believe this woman's irrational and malicious behavior. It was not long after this incident that this lady's husband left her for another woman, and she has been alone ever since.

Whenever I think about this neighbor of mine, the verses in Proverbs cited above come to mind. The Amplified Bible gives us even greater insight into the principle within these verses when it states: "Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown, lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender]." (Proverbs 24:17-18 AMP) In other words, when we gloat over our enemy's misfortune, as my neighbor did, we open ourselves up not only to demonic attack, but to divine discipline.

There is a better way - a godly way - to deal with our enemies. "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:19 NIV) When we try to avenge ourselves when others do us wrong, God is likely to sit on the sidelines and let us make a mess of things. But when we turn to Him in humble dependence, and wait upon Him to execute justice for us, He will handle the situation in ways that will cause us to come out on top. As Scripture tells us: "Do not say, 'I'll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the Lord, and He will avenge you." (Proverbs 20:22 NIV)

My husband and I are now on friendly terms with all of the neighbors who mistreated us all those years ago. God righted our wrongs, and He will do the same for you, if you will commit yourself and your unfair circumstances to Him. Always remember the Lord's precious promise that says, "The Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" (Isaiah 30:18 NIV)

Prayer: Lord, whenever I am being wronged in any way, remind me of Your promise that says You "give justice to all who are treated unfairly." (Psalm 103:6 TLB) Help me to respond in a Christlike fashion in ways that will bring You glory, and draw others to You through me. Teach me to pray for my enemies, and to never try to avenge myself. Thank You for vindicating me, and causing me to come out on top every single time!

- J. M. Farro

 

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This Wednesday, October 22, 2025
SINGLES
Phil Wickham Fear Has No Power - Single [Fair Trade]

This Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan Resurrection Power - EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure (2025 Remaster) [Resuscitation]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Hulvey HE WILL RETURN - EP [Reach]
Latter Day Exploits Within Consumed (Expanded Edition) [Charon Collective]
VaShawn Mitchell SOUNDCHECK [Fair Trade]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Tommee Profitt The Birth Of A King: The Instrumentals [Capitol CMG]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Kristian Stanfill Say It That Way - EP [Capitol CMG]
Jonathan Traylor New World - EP [Capitol CMG]
Lee Vasi Ámame a La Vida - EP [Capitol CMG]
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Canaan Baca More Like Jesus - Single [Capitol CMG]
The Band JAREN Poetic - Single [Hit and Run]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Brandon Lake, Jon Batiste, & Jelly Roll Hard Fought Hallelujah - Single [Provident]
Jonathan Cain No One Else - Single [The Fuel]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
EJ Swavv & Jericko Love Like This - Single [Syntax]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
goodwill. REST - Single [Syntax]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Michael Iksander THE SONGS OF DAVID: PSALM 91 and 32 (From The Original Series House Of David) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Mat Kearney Good Old Days - Single (independent)
Kelo Car Freestyle - Single [Syntax]
Vic Lucas I Need You (ft. IsaiahLaRoi) - Single [Syntax]
Jamie Macdonald You Can't Take My Song - Single [Capitol CMG]
Myles Maestro I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever - Single [Syntax]
Martin Smith, Josh Baldwin I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever - Single [The Fuel]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea Breakthrough - Single [DREAM]
Razzie & Glenn Ray Second Chances - Single [Syntax]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
tonyxtrotter, Yung Drew, Wayne Klassik HOLY HOLY HOLY - Single [Syntax]
Tye Tribbett Holy You (FrEligious) - Single [Capitol CMG]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)
Unseen Faith Cold Resolve - Single [Rottweiler Records]
Kim Zamolo Your Ways Are Higher - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]

Next Wednesday, October 29, 2025
ALBUMS
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]

SINGLES
Tikae Maestro Dwell (ft. Kingdmusic) - Single [Tribe Rua]

Next Friday, October 31, 2025
ALBUMS
Hope Deferred Darkness Remains [The Charon Collective]
MORIAH Nice Life - EP [F2]
SEU Worship What A God [Live at JOGS] (feat. Abbie Gamboa) - EP [Provident]
Testimony of Apocalypse Agony in the Garden [Roxx Records]

SINGLES
Dreamers My Heart His Home - Single [DREAM]
Dust and Grace He Made It All - Single [MTS]
Roxanne Grace Try Again - Single [DREAM]
Lock & Chi Do To Me - Single (independent)
John Long Simple Pursuit - Single (independent)
Polished Arrow Music LOTW - Single [Polished Arrow Music]
Poor Old Lu The Hurting - Single (independent)
Still Remains The Wound and the Weapon - Single (independent)
Warren Zeiders How Great Thou Art - Single [Warner]


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