“But I tell you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you….’” Matthew 5:44

It never fails to amaze me how the Word can continue to have a keen cutting edge in our lives, even after we’ve gone over and over a passage and it seems to have gotten dull. But it’s our own perception that has become dull, not the Word. God uses difficulties to sharpen both our perception and our appetite for the Word.

We have been praying very much about a person of authority who has been opposing our work here. My prayer, much like David’s in the Psalms has been “Lord, cause this woman to fall from her position, remove her, etc.” But God brought to my attention Romans 12:14 “Bless them that persecute you, bless them and curse not!”

Now, how can I bless this woman who seems bound to block any possibility of our doing good? Romans 12 also says in verse 21, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” How can we do that?

In thinking on this, an idea came: instead of praying for her downfall, I’ll pray for her promotion, up and out of the way! Another possibility is to pray for her coming to know Christ. We will see what the Lord will do, as we pray for her--for He will do something. We’ll keep you posted. To meditate on the Word in the midst of such problems is certainly profitable and joy-producing.

Prayer: “Lord, help me to pray for those who give me a hard time, to do good to them, to bless them in some practical way. Help me thus to be a light for you in this dark world. Amen.”