Love and Pray For Your Enemies - Really?
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
"...bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:28)
Jesus instructed His followers to pray for those who mistreat them. And He also instructed us where to pray.
“...when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)
Below is the model prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples. When I was a kid, this prayer was prayed in most schools in the US - too bad we stopped in my opinion.
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)
And we are told to forgive those we are holding a grudge against.
"...when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against..." (Mark 11:25)
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable." (Philippians 4:6-8)
It is not easy for me to forgive, to stop worrying, and to fix my thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Yet, when I make the effort, it seems to give me a deep peace - at least for a moment.