Words to Treasure
PPray for those who hurt you. Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:44 – 45
Dane sat on his bed thinking and thinking as he played chess with himself. He wasn’t concentrating very well on his game. Instead, he was concentrating on his thoughts. He didn’t really want to, but he knew he had to pray about this. “Lord, I want to pray for Jonathan Keese, also known as Trouble to the authorities and to me. I know he’s a mean, self-centered bully and a compulsive gum chewer, but can you do whatever it is you do to people to turn them around? Oh, a personal request . . . could you start with his gum smacking in my ear? Amen.”
Dane did what we should all do and that is to pray for people who cause us trouble. It could be the hardest prayer to pray, but it just might be the most important prayer you can pray. People who do wrong or evil need our prayers. Jesus told us that kindness and prayer are stronger than evil, and they are.
Live It!
Make a list of people you have some problems with, and start to pray for them every day. Prayer can do amazing things not just for the person you pray for, but in your heart as well. Remember, even when people were hurting Jesus — he still prayed for them.