“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 NKJV
One time at a retreat, we read this verse, and I thought to myself, “I don’t think I have enemies. I don’t have anyone after my life, and I try to not hold anything against anyone.” Then, in an instant, God told me to pray for those who made work difficult for me. I was taken aback. “Pray for who? Ha! This is hard oh,” I said.
Before then, I had allowed bitterness to enter my heart. Because I had expectations of excellent work and I always tried to go the extra mile, anyone who didn’t do the same intentionally was not even trying.
After God corrected that perception I had some months before the retreat, this was His final way of ensuring I had come full circle to seeing people through His lens.
I knelt that day and prayed for them. I mentioned their names one after the other and prayed that their weaknesses would become strengths. And that was the first of many other times that I prayed for them.
After that retreat, nothing they did got to me. I stopped feeling offended and instead asked God to empower them.
That experience filled my heart with so much love for them that, when I finally left, I missed them. I have become forever grateful to God for that experience.
How can we live in peace with those we work with?
Praying for and living in peace with difficult people requires a heart posture that only God can help you with. Willpower will not do the trick because you’re trying to use the flesh to do a spiritual activity.
From my story, praying for those who you feel are always out to hurt you kills the power of self and allows God to renew your mind.
It’s a struggle to do this because, even while praying for the first time, the only images in your heart would be all the times they wronged you.
But as you stay in position over different times of prayer, your imagination changes until you can no longer feel the hurt. This way, you’ll give them a genuine smile the next time you see them.
When the ocean is peaceful, those who have work to do on water can get results. But turbulence repels results.
Peace is an atmosphere, not a place or emotion. Focus on always having a peaceful atmosphere so that your exceptional work yields results.
“I choose to start praying for the following people who seem to make work difficult for me…”
Praying for those whom you regard as enemies is a good start. It shows good intent and allows God to give you other instructions that will bring forth peace in your life.
Make a list of those you would naturally never pray for and intercede. You’ll be better off for it.
Leave a Reply