One of the hardest things to pray for.

When you ask people what they pray about typically you get similar answers from most everyone. They pray about their needs and wants. They pray about those they care for. Many will pray about the conditions they are dealing with or sickness. There is one thing we are told to pray for that seems to be hard for a lot of people to do so.

Matthew 5:44 Jesus says; But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you,

This was in response to the Pharisees saying “hate your enemies.” Something that does come naturally for everyone. Hating our enemies is a natural reaction for all people. Not many people I know of will embrace they very person that is causing them harm or discomfort. What our Lord was doing was trying to get his followers to see the far better path than remaining in hate.

Some years ago a teenager was killed by another teen in a shooting and robbery gone wrong. In the court where he was convicted, the mother of the murdered teen told the teen on trial that she had forgiven him for what he had done. This surprised many because of her outpouring of grief over losing her only son. When she was interviewed by the local news she said she forgave him because it is what Jesus wanted her to do. You can see there was a inner struggle that in the end her commitment to the way Christ told her to live won out.

Richard Wurmbrand was a minister in Romania during the 1940s when Communists took over that country. When he actively resisted the new government he was thrown in jail for 14 years. During that time he was repeatedly tortured and beaten. In prison he nearly died on a few occasions at the hands of his captors. During that time he and many others like him did the unthinkable. They prayed for those who imprisoned and tortured them. They clung to the promises and word from Jesus Christ and when the clung to it they knew they had a job to do. Even under the worst possible conditions. In the times he was interviewed about his experiences there, you come to see that it was often Godliness that overcame the complete darkness of the prison life. Forgiveness freed men and women in a place where they were not free.

Praying for those who hurt us on a regular basis, those who take things away from us, and those who actively hate us is not an optional thing, it is a requirement by Jesus to do. Even when every fiber of our being seems to resist the act we as Christians know it is required of us and therefore if we are in Him we must do it. Often those I have talked to about praying for their enemies had noted changes in themselves. When it was hard to do It took a lot of direction and putting aside of their feelings. Over time it began to get easier, sometimes out of routine. Over time they began to see that these people were more to them than they first thought and they began to see what God wanted them to see in the very same person. They were made in the image of God and they were often lost, confused, hurt themselves and needed somebody to care for them. What a great way to care for somebody, pray for them.

In this life we will always have enemies. It takes a dedication to the commands of Jesus our savior to act on him as he would have us do. Put ourselves aside and do his will and not our own. We know that what he tells us to do ultimately benefits us in the end! That benefit by far outstrips any harm that can be done to us in this life.

To see some of Richard Wurmbrand’s story look at the following link

Your Brother in Christ,

Steve Koenig

Lakeshore Fellowship