It's Working

Matthew 5:43-48  You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies!   Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way you will be acting as true children of your  is there in  heaven.  For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?  Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:35-36  Love your enemies!  Do good to them.  Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.  You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.  

Recently I challenged a friend to pray for those at work who were unfair, not kind and who seemingly go out of their way to harm or harass those around them.  I of course met with some resistance.  It's hard to pray for those who bother us, hurt us, do us grievous or even not so grievous harm.  It feels impossible to pray for them, let alone do anything nice for them!  It's not fair!!

Well, as I challenged my friend, God challenged me.  In essence, He asked me, "Are you practicing what you preach?"  Hmmmm....aaaa, no.  I really wasn't, at least with any consistency.  I spent more time complaining, even if it was just in my own head, about the injustices, the annoyances and what I saw was unfairness than following the command of Jesus to pray for and be kind to people who I was not happy with.

So I began to pray for them....daily.   And you know what, in praying for them, it's become easier to be kind.  At first it was done in obedience to God's directive.  There was no real emotion to back it up...I mean I didn't want harm to come to these people, they really just annoyed me more than intentionally hurt me, but still their inability to do the right thing makes my life at work more difficult than it  should be.  And that made me angry with them all the time.  Now that I am praying for them, I feel less agitated, I truly want God to work in their lives and I have more peace at work.

All the things God teaches, everything He commands blends together to help us.  This command to pray for those who hurt us turns our eyes upwards and softens our hearts.  What a wonderful God visit!

Romans 5:10  For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son WHILE WE WERE STILL HIS ENEMIES, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son.  We were once enemies too.  Yet God showed us love and kindness.  Hallelujah!!

It starts with prayer.  And that is all God asked me to do.  The rest is the work of the Holy Spirit.  He is softening my heart to those around me.  Obedience is our necessity.  It's the only way for us to have peace and joy.  It's working!

Thank You God for Your instructions.  Thank You for the fact that while I was still Your enemy You did good for me, You loved me, and You saved me.  Help us all to follow Your example.  Some days it's so hard, people hurt our feelings, treat us unfairly.  I think of those who are persecuted for Your name, how horribly they are treated and yet they minister to and pray for their enemies.  Lord, help me in this area.  I want to glorify You and be like You.  I can't do this alone....I know it has to be You in me.

Pray for someone who you consider an enemy today.