I was driving by someone’s home today that truly hurt me-without any cause & I felt God’s Spirit prompt me to pray for them. I reminded God how they had hurt me-for no reason. Then, the Holy Spirit gently spoke to and nudged my heart, “son they don’t know better. Pray for them anyway.”

Malice is a state of mind that we cannot afford. That is why Jesus said to pray for your enemies. And to do good to those that hurt you. We do in fact hurt ourselves by having thoughts of malevolence towards others.

Forgiveness is not an elective if we love Jesus. It is a command. I struggle with it. But I have learned not to resist the Holy Spirit and to pray for those that He tells me to, even when it’s difficult.

His love is so far above any concept of love that I have. That I must enter His Spirit and just say “yes Lord,” to get out of my own understanding and into His Holy flow and direction.

I think I understand the story of Jonah just a little bit more. The people that Jonah wanted God to judge were the very people, that God wanted Jonah to reach out to. So often that has happened with me. The very people I would like to see “get it” are the very people that God wants me to love and pray for. Walking with the Holy Spirit is being led very much against and Beyond our own desires. We often have to lay our will down, to embrace the will of Jesus.

Like Peter, we all too often say eagerly; “yes Lord I will do your will.” And then when the cock has crowed three times, we discover that we have very literally and miserably failed Him. At least I have. And then it is only Christ’s Mercy, Grace and never ending love that helps us get back up and continue further on the path of life. It’s hard to see that we must accept our own failure and fault, to grow closer to Jesus. It is not always pleasant to see the truth about ourselves. Paul himself had to admit that he was the chief of sinners. The same Peter that Jesus called The Rock was also the Peter that Jesus told to get away from Him, and said the enemy was speaking through him. The passageway to Holiness and becoming more like Christ is filled with struggles of seeing just how far short we fall on our own. We need a deeper walk with Christ, because being pleasing to God only happens, when the Lord truly has a deeper control in our lives. And that happens a lot through this process of failing and getting back up only by grace to try again. At least it’s been that way for me.

So I mildly and meekly know that when God has me pray for someone else. That most times that very thing that I dislike in that person is something that but by the grace of God I could have myself. So I have learned to pray for other people that I have challenges with… To look at them, Just like a sick person going into the hospital. You pray for them because they need to get better. Not because they have it all together.

Sometimes, even when I don’t feel like I’m supposed to get closer to the person that I pray for. That there is no way to mend the bridge between us. I still have to pray for them. There is no way that the flow of the Holy Spirit Will flow through me, unless I yield to be willing to forgive and pray for that person. You’re unforgiveness, not only can hurt that person but it can hurt you. It can be the stumbling block that keeps you from experiencing deeper Avenues of communion with the Lord.

Matthew 5:43 and 44 solves the matter, if we are we really willing to listen to Jesus.

[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

No I am not saying to live in abuse. People so often use no common sense, in interpreting the scriptures…. Jesus said in one verse to “judge not that ye be not judged” and turned right around in a verse or two right after it and said “throw not your pearls before the swine.” Jesus understood that we needed to have balance. The master of all the universe knows how to give us clear, correct light and help us see the right approach to every situation.

But clearly, one thing that God will not condone in the hearts of his children is bitterness, hatred, Envy and malice. God means for us to have forgiving, loving hearts. Even towards those that we do not agree with…. If you cannot pray for someone, then it is very likely that you do not have a right perspective towards that person. I am not pointing fingers here. Except at myself. Thank you Jesus that you call me to pray for those that I struggle with. It helps me to understand a little bit more of Your beautiful, holy Divine heart, my precious Lord and Master Jesus. And the prospects of drawing closer to You Lord, is sure worth letting go of my flimsy feelings of self. Help me grow Lord in your forgiving ways!

Mk. 11:25; And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Matthew 6:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Lk. 24:34a Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

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