Jimbo's Jots

Jesus said, “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.” (Matthew 5:43-45, The Message)

I’ve been thinking about this verse over the past couple of weeks. I’ve been on both sides of couples in conflict. I’ve sat with someone on the verge of another broken relationship. I, like you, have witnessed the stories from the news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I’ve also seen stories on our local news of violence and hatred.

Then I think about what Jesus said. And I ponder my own response to “my enemies”. So I offer this to you:

• Pray for the one who has hurt you. Maybe it’s a spouse, a coworker, another family member. Has someone done a wrong to you? They have spoken negatively about you and not to you. Acknowledge the hurt and then pray God open your heart to finding peace with the relationship.
• Pray for your fears. This sounds a bit odd, doesn’t it? Your fears are typically what keep you from enjoying the life you desire to have. The enemy of your thoughts for a blessed life is fear.
• Pray for your anxiety. Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) One way to combat your anxious soul is to focus your heart and mind to prayer. I often tell clients to keep a journal of things they are anxious about and things they want to pray about. They come back saying that their prayer list is getting longer and the anxious list is becoming shorter.
• Pray for our nation’s political tension. Every day, you see and hear the war of words between the two sides of the aisle. Maybe you have even contributed to the discord. Think about when the last time you prayed for our government – national, state and local.
• Pray for your church leaders. It’s often easy to be critical of our church leaders. Decisions are made that are difficult for the whole body of believers to all find agreement. Pray that they be given wisdom in all matters as it relates to the church body as a whole.

Maybe this will just start your thoughts of praying for your enemies. They probably need your prayers more than your criticism. And in doing so, you are “working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.”

Be blessed in your praying and be a blessing for others through those prayers!