Mathew 5:44-45 I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The next day – long after the tears had dried – we sat on the couch and talked about enemies.

She was only seven. A girl in a neighboring cup-de-sac had hurled some hurtful words carelessly. And my girl didn’t want to play nice, didn’t even want to go outside…”maybe ever.”

After a lot of talking and eventually laughing together… “Let’s pray for her.”

She just stared back at me in stunned silence. “I don’t want to.”

“I’ll go first…”

Jesus told his disciples – living under brutal Roman rule – to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them. Then he went first.

“Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Blood dripping from hands and feet and he prayed for those who drove the nails. “Forgive them.”

Now it’s our turn.

Our Prayer

God, vengeance is yours; not mine. I pray that __________________ grows closer to You today. I ask You to comfort her/him if she/he is hurting. Meet his/her every physical need today. Invade his/her heart with peace, joy, gratitude and love. I place her/him in your hands and ask you to do what you want with him/her today – not what I want. Amen.