I was captivated by today's scripture, especially because I was just sharing about this one yesterday and today.  It is so easy to see the "hard side" of this word, but I am constantly reminded by Jesus of just what a wonderful privilege it really is - to pray for those who hurt us.

This week I received word from a family member about another painful situation, a new tragedy befalling a former family member and of the pain it is causing ... with a request to pray for those being hurt.  And I was stirred in my spirit again that we have such an imperative to pray also for the one causing pain ... and why would we not embrace that and rejoice in that too??

After all, is that person not someone Jesus died for too?  Are they not yet another captive of our enemy, in bondage to his lies and schemes and traps??  And who else is there to pray??  There are no other saved family members, no saved friends ... only a world of acquaintances similarly bound!

It would be "natural," it would be of the flesh to embrace instead the pain and to desire to lash out, to cry for justice, to speak ill and bemoan the repetition of poor choices and sinful actions ... and yet how can we, really?  To choose to agree with the enemy?  To choose to inflict pain on another person?  Isn't that the very action that pushes us seek revenge?  If I am offended by the pain being inflicted on someone I love, how silly is it for me to desire to see pain inflicted on someone else??  Especially when that someone is loved by Jesus!  When hurtful words are spoken to someone I love, and I see that as wrong, how then can I choose to turn around and commit that same sin?

Our enemy is certainly crafty to be able to convince us to join him in something as ridiculous as this!  Thank you, Jesus, that Your Word gives us the wisdom to see beyond such lies!!  Thank you, Jesus, that you loved ME so much that while I was lost in my sin you reached out to me and thank YOU that you give me the opportunity to share in your work by praying for Your Love to break through in the lives of those around me who need it most!