Prayer Part III: Praying for Enemies

I haven't felt much like writing.

Honestly, with everything going on in the world, my thoughts and words feel incredibly small, but I should write anyway.

Like much of the world, I've been praying a lot for the Middle East and an end to the violence, terrorism, and horror of ISIS and Boko Haram.  And we pray for the victims, and the refugees, our troops, and the world leaders...

Lately, my prayers have also taken another turn.  In reflecting on the life of St. Paul, I am reminded that he was first Saul of Tarsus, a man who hunted down the Christians of his day with relentless fervor and hatred.  He stood by and watched and approved the crowds as they stoned Stephen to death, he dragged men, women, and children from their homes, and he did not stop at persecuting the innocent of Jerusalem but sought permission to bring his hunt to other cities as well.  Christians everywhere knew his name, and spoke about him with fear.  All this he did believing he was honoring God.

And then he met Jesus.

And Jesus taught Saul what a life of honoring God would truly look like.  Saul of Tarsus became Paul, and he traveled all over preaching the good news that he had fought to destroy- that Jesus is Lord and came to save us all.  A man so bloodthirsty and full of hatred was now a man who prayed and worked with a tireless love.

And with that in mind, Let us pray for our enemies, pray for radical transformation of those who are most filled with hatred.  Let us pray that some of the major leaders of ISIS, of Boko Haram, of other groups who are killing and torturing men, women, and children will meet Jesus and that their hearts will be altered forever.  I pray that those whom God chooses to change will be the ones he uses to change the world for his good plan.  I pray that the loudest voices of hatred become the brightest beacons of Christ's hope.  I pray that he changes Sauls into Pauls.  And that the world will watch and wonder at the powerful hand and relentless mercy of our God.

I pray for miracles that are only possible with the power of an Almighty and All-loving God.  Lord, we need miracles from your hand.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:5

Prayer Part II: Life and Death and Baby Brothers

I interrupted her in the middle of her prayer.  "No, no, no.  I have to stop you," I told the teenage girl in front of me.  We had been talking about praying boldly, and after she told me some of the big prayers she had, I told her one of mine- that my brothers who profess there is no God will come to know Him and be transformed by Jesus.  So we decided to pray for one another's intentions.

"Dear God, I pray for Miss Lee's brothers that they will have faith.... But if they don't, that's okay too because it's their choice."

"No, no, no.  I have to stop you."

I have to admit, I've never stopped anyone's prayer before, and I've heard some strange prayers to tell you the truth.  But my brothers do not have faith in Jesus, and that's a life or death matter.  So I don't feel the need to be polite.  Sound dramatic?  If you think so, let me explain.  {Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no way, truth, or life apart from him.  We are all sinners and the payment for sin is death, and only through Jesus are we saved from that death.}  In our culture today, those kind of absolute statements make us squirm, but I know Jesus is who he says he is and he is indeed the Savior of the world.

  I love my baby brothers too much to pray for anything other than for Jesus to save them.  If I knew they were about to walk in front of a train or pull the trigger of a gun pointed at their head, I would never say, "Please don't, but if you do, that's okay too because it's your choice."  I would beg for anyone, anyone to save them, and in this case, Jesus is the only one who can.  So I beg him.

But her prayer revealed something in my heart that I've been thinking about these past few days.  I stopped her from praying a timid prayer because those were my brothers she was talking about and I love them.  I pray for them, and my prayers will be bold and relentless, and I will not allow for anything less.  But what about everyone else?  Who is praying boldly and relentlessly for them?  Who loves them enough?

Maybe I need to pray for everyone like they are my baby brothers in a life or death situation.  Maybe all Christians need to pray like that.  Because if God is our Father, and life is found in Jesus, well, that might not be as far from the truth as one might think.

Jesus, reveal yourself, your love, and your truth to baby brothers.  Open their hearts to believe that you are Lord and you are risen.  Teach us to ask boldly.  Amen.