Good Morning Gems!!!
We are on the final day of week five and for today I want to focus on one more "group" of people we can pray for. This one will definitely be the hardest as I know it's extremely hard for me to do.
Praying for your enemies. Yes, those people who have hurt you, done you wrong, talked about you and those who mess with you daily. Yes, even the ones that may have cursed you out or told you bluntly and plainly that they hate or dislike you. Yes those very people.
You're probably scratching your head right now trying to figure out why in the world you would pray for your enemy. However, let's look to our greatest example ... Christ. He prayed and forgave His enemies, even on the Cross; Luke 23:34 tells us so:
Just as we are commanded to pray, we are also commanded to pray for our enemies. Praying for them enables us to show TRUE love.
When we pray for our enemies we should not pray for their downfall, but rather that their hearts would be softened, that God would work in them, for us to forgive them and for love to flow in their lives.
We are to pray blessings and not curses according to 1 Peter 3:9:
Journaling Prompt
Please be as true to yourself as possible when answering the prompt to get the most out of this challenge.
Today's scripture comes from Matthew 5:44:
Spend 3-7 minutes journaling your thoughts, feelings and emotions. Use the prompt.
Verbal Prayer
Take 5 minutes and verbally speak your written prayer. Pray out loud so that He can hear your voice. If your prayer is short, try to add to it. Use the scripture to pray today. Pray that God would soften your heart to your enemies.
Listen
Sit quietly in a position that will not make you tired and wait on God. You may feel His presence, you may hear from Him. If you do, write down what He says or what you're feeling. Give yourself at least 2 minutes of pure silence to be able to hear from and feel God. This is a conversation, not a rant. Allow Him the opportunity to speak to you after you've spoken to Him.
Let's pray this powerful prayer I found from Crosswalk...
Blessings,We are on the final day of week five and for today I want to focus on one more "group" of people we can pray for. This one will definitely be the hardest as I know it's extremely hard for me to do.
You're probably scratching your head right now trying to figure out why in the world you would pray for your enemy. However, let's look to our greatest example ... Christ. He prayed and forgave His enemies, even on the Cross; Luke 23:34 tells us so:
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.In the midst of them nailing Him to the Cross, playing games with His belongings and while He was bruised on that Cross -- He prayed that God would forgive them. The ones who persecuted, betrayed and scorned Him.
Just as we are commanded to pray, we are also commanded to pray for our enemies. Praying for them enables us to show TRUE love.
When we pray for our enemies we should not pray for their downfall, but rather that their hearts would be softened, that God would work in them, for us to forgive them and for love to flow in their lives.
We are to pray blessings and not curses according to 1 Peter 3:9:
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.Praying for our enemies is the ultimate test of love and faith, but even so we need to do it.
Please be as true to yourself as possible when answering the prompt to get the most out of this challenge.
Can you honestly and freely pray for your enemies? Why or why not? What stops? How can you begin to think like Jesus concerning your enemies?Scripture
Today's scripture comes from Matthew 5:44:
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.Prayer Journaling
Spend 3-7 minutes journaling your thoughts, feelings and emotions. Use the prompt.
Verbal Prayer
Take 5 minutes and verbally speak your written prayer. Pray out loud so that He can hear your voice. If your prayer is short, try to add to it. Use the scripture to pray today. Pray that God would soften your heart to your enemies.
Listen
Sit quietly in a position that will not make you tired and wait on God. You may feel His presence, you may hear from Him. If you do, write down what He says or what you're feeling. Give yourself at least 2 minutes of pure silence to be able to hear from and feel God. This is a conversation, not a rant. Allow Him the opportunity to speak to you after you've spoken to Him.
Let's pray this powerful prayer I found from Crosswalk...
Heavenly Father, following the example and command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we pray for our enemies today. We ask first that You would saturate our lives with the Holy Spirit’s power and might. Send Your love flowing through us, and forgive us for holding on to anything that could hinder our prayers. We release any unforgiveness, thoughts of revenge, or hateful emotions that can quench Your Spirit in our hearts. Then give us wisdom as we seek how to bless, to love, and to pray for our enemies.
Abba, we pray for You to bless our enemies and to orchestrate events in their lives that will leave their hearts exposed before You. As You characterized blessing in the Beatitudes, we pray that You would give them a poverty of spirit that recognizes their deep need for You. We pray they will discover Your comfort in times of mourning, and they would be humbled before You—in Your way and Your time. We pray You would show them mercy before it is too late—knowing we were all God’s enemies before You extended mercy to us—and that they would, in turn, be merciful to others. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Abba, we pray for You to bless our enemies and to orchestrate events in their lives that will leave their hearts exposed before You. As You characterized blessing in the Beatitudes, we pray that You would give them a poverty of spirit that recognizes their deep need for You. We pray they will discover Your comfort in times of mourning, and they would be humbled before You—in Your way and Your time. We pray You would show them mercy before it is too late—knowing we were all God’s enemies before You extended mercy to us—and that they would, in turn, be merciful to others. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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