READ

“I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”—Matthew 5:44–47 (NIV)

RESPOND

This is one of the hardest commands Jesus gives to us as His disciples: to bless, love, and pray for our enemies. It seems hard, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, all things are possible. Today, pray the Lord would bless them and reveal His love, grace, goodness, and salvation to those with whom you disagree, have had conflict, tension, and broken relationships, whose lifestyles are at odds with Christian values and beliefs, and those who hate you and want to shame and cancel you.

PRAY

Father, today I am following Your example and command by praying for my enemies. I pray You would saturate my life with the Holy Spirit’s power and might, helping me to release any unforgiveness, cynicism, suspicion, thoughts of revenge, or hateful emotions toward them. Give me the wisdom to bless, love, and serve them. And Father, I pray You would reveal Your Son to them. I pray for their salvation and redemption. I pray You would heal and free them from any brokenness that has led them to this point. Work in them, Lord. Amen.