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“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”  – Matthew 5:44

In the ‘Sermon On The Mount’, found in Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus challenged the religious norm and way of thinking, and instead presented people with a new way to think and live.  Multiple times he states, “You have heard it said … but I say to you…”, and He goes on to press the people to higher ground, to God’s standard and expectation.

Often times when it comes to prayer, it’s easy for me to pray for family and friends; its easy to ask of God for what I want or need; and it can even be easy to praise Him for the good things He has done. However, Christ did not just teach us to pray the easy prayers. Instead, He challenges us to pray the hardest prayers, those that require the greatest amount of faith and humility.

When is the last time you prayed for your enemies or for those who persecute you? What would it look like if you actually changed your perspective toward those people? How would it look if you prayed for their salvation, or for them to be blessed? What if you asked God to extend His grace and mercy in their life, just like He has done for you? I know it sounds hard, in fact it sounds nearly impossible. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the type of prayer life that will transform you and transform the world.

This week, rather than trying to defend yourself, why don’t you try to something radical; chose to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you!

by Paul Hansen