Pray for Those Who Persecute You

A few years ago, after a particularly egregious encounter with my ex-husband, I happened to recall the injunction to “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-48, NIV). I was driving, alone in the car, so I screamed out the only thought I had: “God, I hate that man.”

I was amazed by the calming and centering effect this had on me. The underlying prayer was “God, you love that man, because I can’t right now.” Of course it was calming to pray in this way; I gave to God what I could not hold. God gave to me peace and grace.

Recently, I’ve had occasion to consider this injunction again. At first my prayer was something like “please help this person calm down.” Realizing that I was really praying for them to change and stop ranting at me, I decided to employ a style of prayer taught to me by a professor emeritus at my seminary.

He taught us to relax, give ourselves over to God, and think well of the person at the center of our prayer. He taught us to hold an image of God embracing that person.

This, I think, isn’t so much about me, and I like that. Yet, it is about me, and I like that too.

The Message Bible translates / interprets this passage in this way:

When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.

I like the idea that maybe my “true self” is a person who can give from a well of generosity and grace rather than a person who gives to get. I am grateful for this gift of prayer that lets me be true to myself rather than getting pulled into an adversarial relationship.

Grace and Peace to you, friend.