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