Pray for Persecutors
“Pray for those who persecute you” – Matthew 5:44
Jesus does not just ask us to go the extra mile. He tells us to pray for the very people who make us want to quit walking altogether. That was not a casual suggestion. It was a radical command spoken to a group of people who knew firsthand what real persecution felt like. His audience had been mistreated by the Romans, ignored by religious leaders, and overlooked by society. They knew what it meant to be hurt.
So do you. You have felt the sting of rejection, betrayal, or mockery. You have had your motives questioned or your faith criticized. You might not face physical persecution like those early believers, but you know what it is like to be mistreated. The natural response is to shut down or strike back. Jesus says to pray.
That feels impossible. But that is the point. The love of Jesus is not natural. It is supernatural. And when you go to God on behalf of someone who has hurt you, something unexpected happens. Sometimes it changes them. But it always changes you. Prayer softens your heart without making you weak. It realigns your focus without ignoring your pain.
Praying for your persecutors does not mean you are okay with what happened. It does not mean there should be no consequences. But it does mean you are handing the situation over to the only One who sees the full picture. It is a declaration that your heart will not be ruled by bitterness, anger, or revenge.
So who is it for you? Who has wounded you, or disrespected you, or walked away when you needed them most? Jesus is not asking you to feel warm toward them. He is asking you to bring their name before God and ask Him to move in their life. When you do, you will find that the love you are giving is not coming from you. It is flowing through you from the One who prayed for His enemies even while hanging on a cross.
The more you pray for them, the more you become like Him. And that is the real goal.
Jesus does not just ask us to go the extra mile. He tells us to pray for the very people who make us want to quit walking altogether. That was not a casual suggestion. It was a radical command spoken to a group of people who knew firsthand what real persecution felt like. His audience had been mistreated by the Romans, ignored by religious leaders, and overlooked by society. They knew what it meant to be hurt.
So do you. You have felt the sting of rejection, betrayal, or mockery. You have had your motives questioned or your faith criticized. You might not face physical persecution like those early believers, but you know what it is like to be mistreated. The natural response is to shut down or strike back. Jesus says to pray.
That feels impossible. But that is the point. The love of Jesus is not natural. It is supernatural. And when you go to God on behalf of someone who has hurt you, something unexpected happens. Sometimes it changes them. But it always changes you. Prayer softens your heart without making you weak. It realigns your focus without ignoring your pain.
Praying for your persecutors does not mean you are okay with what happened. It does not mean there should be no consequences. But it does mean you are handing the situation over to the only One who sees the full picture. It is a declaration that your heart will not be ruled by bitterness, anger, or revenge.
So who is it for you? Who has wounded you, or disrespected you, or walked away when you needed them most? Jesus is not asking you to feel warm toward them. He is asking you to bring their name before God and ask Him to move in their life. When you do, you will find that the love you are giving is not coming from you. It is flowing through you from the One who prayed for His enemies even while hanging on a cross.
The more you pray for them, the more you become like Him. And that is the real goal.
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