Praying for your enemies

This morning I received a challenge on Facebook from Mornings With Brant (www.morningswithbrant.com)   Here's the challenge: "Pick someone you can't stand, or at least struggle with, and pray for him/her each day for a week, starting today.  We'll check back in a week.  Are you in?  And if so, feel free to tell us (without specifics, names, etc.) for whom you're praying."  Upon reading this in my news feed, I knew instantly two things: 1-I HAD to do this (but don't want to) and 2-I was supposed to pray for Krystal.  She's my step-brother's soon to be ex-wife and the mother of my two nephews and niece who have been living with my mother since November. 

There are so many reasons why I should, and do, hate her.  And, there are several reasons why I shouldn't.  This is the big one: "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.'  I'm challenging that.  I'm telling you to love your enemies.  Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.  When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of pray, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.  That is what God does.  He gives his best-the sun to warm and the rain to nourish-to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.  If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?  Anybody can do that.  If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal?  Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.  In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up.  You're kingdom subjects.  Now live like it.  Live out your God-created identity.  Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." (Matthew 5: 43-48)  Wow.  There's no beating around the bush there.  And, this wasn't Peter or Paul saying this - it was Jesus.  It's not a request - it's a command from the One I said I was giving my life to.

Why is this so hard for me?  Why is it so easy to pray for people in Alabama and Memphis, or Myanmar, or the homeless guy I saw this morning on the way to work, yet so hard to pray for the mother of my niece and nephews?  I think it's because she's wronged me.  She's called me names.  She's hurt people I love.  People in Alabama and Memphis - I don't know them.  And none of them have crossed me.  But she has.  So, I'm going to spend the next 7 days praying for her.  Not praying for what I want out of the situation, but praying for her needs,  because He knows them.  And, I have a feeling it will be a lot like your nose itching during a CT Scan.  They say you can't move, so you suddenly have the most intense nose itch.  I'm committing to praying for seven days.  I pray every day, and usually don't even know I do it.  It's habit.  But committing to it?  I have a feeling I'll conveniently "forget" to do this each day.

So, how about you?  Do you now feel challenged to "Grow up.  You're kingdom subjects.  Now live like it.  Live out your God-created identity.  Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."?