SCRIPTURE:  You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. Matthew 5:43-45 NIV

THOUGHT: Some days, I just sigh when I get a glimpse of how far I am from being God-like in my attitudes and actions. I mentioned after the National Day of Prayer that I had seen some things in my heart that needed examining and that I would talk here about them. And here it is. Time for confession.

As I tried to pray through the list of national leaders, I encountered the strange truth that I didn’t want some of their names to cross my lips, as if those very words would feel evil on my tongue. It reminded me that this was not the first time I had felt this way. I have struggled to pray for certain others all of my life, and when I compare that to the sinless son of God who literally lives to intercede, and to my heavenly Father, who loves the whole world and sends rain and sun to even those who hate him, it is a pretty stark contrast.

In the end, I did pray for these leaders, using some words from the Psalmist as my guide, but it didn’t feel very loving and I’m pretty sure that’s not the way Jesus is interceding for them.

So, I’d be curious, am I alone here? Do you struggle to follow Jesus into love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, or is it something that comes as easily and naturally as praying for your children or friends? I’d love to hear from you, and the thought for today is simply a challenge: what does it look like to love our enemies?

PRAYER: Oh God, I feel so puny beside you, despite the years of spiritual growth and training, and the love that has been poured into my life. I am so grateful that you have promised to finish what you started in me. Help me follow you even to this: loving enemies and praying for persecutors.