Sunday Supplications

So often, when I pray for my "enemies," it's usually a veiled request for God to turn them to my way of thinking.

If I'm being honest, my heart is not usually centered in a place of unconditional love, looking at people through the eyes of Christ.

I'm usually looking at "those" people through eyes clouded with judgment, self-righteousness, and egotistical hypocrisy.

My "prayers" usually go something like this:

"Oh, wonderful and merciful Lord, please help so and so to stop being such a jerky face. Can you please get them to see things the right way - my way - and change them into the kind of person I want them to be."

Of course, I change the words to sound more holy.

"O Lord, I commend this person to your hands. Help soften their hearts as you provide your Godly wisdom to right their wrongs and bring their hearts and minds in line with your will."

The words are better, but I fear my intentions might be the same.

There are a lot of scriptures in the bible about forgiving and praying for our enemies.  

One of the juiciest ones is at the bottom of this post. The line that stood out to me is, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."

Bless, not curse.

To Bless someone is to "invoke divine care for or to confer prosperity or happiness upon."

The curse part I got, but bless?  

My ego is screaming, "BUT GOD! Bless them? Divinely care for them? Pray for them to be prosperous and happy?"

Yep.  

Ouch.  

Holy conviction, Batman.

Okay, let me try this again.

Lord,

Everywhere I turn, it seems we are in a war between us and them. My mind is dizzy over which side I should be on and who the "real" enemies are as I am algorithmed into divisive thinking.

I can rationalize my judgments and give you facts and data about why "they" are wrong and "we" are right.

Help quiet my mind and the cursing voices of darkness and despair.

Help me open my ears to hear Your voice of truth and eyes to see things from Your perspective.

I pray for blessings upon my enemies. I pray for their health and prosperity of spirit to be upon them as they go about their day.

Help me to understand how I am to bless and love those who seem to go against what I understand as good and right.

Show me the way.

I know You love us all.

Even when we don't deserve it.

You loved me when I turned from You, and You chased after me until I was back in your arms, safe and sound.

I've seen You turn lives around and make miracles happen.

I've seen You bring back the lost and redeem the unredeemable.

Thank you God that Your love is given without condition or expectation.

You don't see sides when you look at your beloved creation.

You see only love.

With You, there is only love.

No enemies, only love.

Your love.

Your unconditional, never ending, love.

You created us, all of us, and you sent Jesus to die for each of us, and that sacrificial love is an offer of redemption and hope that is for every single one of us.

I pray that Your love inhabits, infiltrates, and inspires every human being on this planet.

All of us.

I pray that, together, we - not us or them - all have the strength and humility to overcome evil with good.

Amen

Romans 12: 9-21

Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 

On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.