It's not an easy assignment in today's hardened online discourse, but really, it never has been easy. But Jesus tells his followers it's what they need to do. This episode looks into why this is and at practical steps we can take to make life easier for others -- and ourselves.Read the columns mentioned in the episode here:How I Gave Up Anger for Lent, And Took Up Praying for My ‘Enemies’The Bee Attitudes — or O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?How my animosity toward badly behaving bees taught me I was being unforgiving to people who’ve wronged meOr listen to the podcast versions here:E3: How I Gave Up Anger for Lent &Took Up Praying for My EnemiesEpisode 1: The Bee Attitudes: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?Read Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place," or watch the movie online.Listen to Bob Dylan: "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking."Podcast Notes: “Praying for Your Enemies”1. IntroductionOpen with the idea: “One of the most radical teachings of Jesus is to love and pray for your enemies.”Explain why this stands out compared to normal human instincts toward retaliation.Share the key verse (Luke 6:27–28 or Matthew 5:44) as your anchor text.2. Scriptural FoundationMatthew 5:44 – Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you.Luke 6:27–28 – Love your enemies, do good to them, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.Romans 12:14 – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.Romans 12:20–21 – If your enemy is hungry, feed them; if thirsty, give them drink… overcome evil with good.Proverbs 25:21–22 – Echo of Romans: feed and give drink to your enemy.1 Peter 3:9 – Don’t repay evil with evil, but blessing.Key takeaway: This isn’t a one-off teaching. It runs through Scripture.3. Why Pray for Our Enemies?Spiritual discipline: Prayer transforms your own heart, softening resentment.Witness to Christ: Shows God’s love through actions.Breaks the cycle of retaliation: Encourages reconciliation instead of escalation.Aligns with God’s mercy: We were once enemies of God (Romans 5:10).4. How to Pray for Your EnemiesStart by naming them honestly before God.Pray for their well-being, safety, and understanding of God’s truth.Ask God to bless them materially or spiritually as appropriate.Pray for your own heart to be softened and freed from bitterness.5. Practical Real-World ExamplesWorkplace conflict – A co-worker undermines you; instead of plotting revenge, pray for their success and growth.Politics/social media – Encountering someone who mocks your beliefs; pray for them rather than responding harshly.Church disputes – Even within Christian communities, people can hurt each other; pray for reconciliation rather than holding grudges.Family estrangement – Pray for healing and restoration with relatives who’ve wronged you.Global issues – Christians in countries facing persecution praying for their persecutors (e.g., stories from North Korea, China, or the Middle East).6. Stories/Illustrations You Could UseCorrie ten Boom – Forgiving and praying for Nazi guards after WWII.The Amish school shooting (Nickel Mines, PA, 2006) – The Amish community publicly forgave and supported the shooter’s family.Martin Luther King Jr. – Advocated loving enemies as the core of nonviolent resistance.7. Practical Tips for ListenersBegin small: pray for a difficult co-worker or neighbor.Pair prayer with acts of kindness (Romans 12:20).Keep a journal of answered prayers and your changing attitude.Remember: praying for enemies is a journey, not a one-time event.8. Closing ThoughtsReiterate Jesus’ words: praying for enemies makes us “children of our Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:45).Offer a brief prayer or blessing over listeners, asking God to help them do this in their own lives.

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