Lord, Bless My Enemies

Lord, Bless My Enemies

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority.1 Timothy 2:1-2

Paul knows that nothing of eternal significance happens without prayer, so he urges young Timothy, “Pray for all people,” and he gets specific about who “all” is in verse 2: kings and those in authority. If I had been Timothy, I would have protested, “Paul, those in authority threw you into prison. And Nero is capturing our brothers and sisters, covering them with tar, and using them as human torches to light his gardens. Surely you don’t expect me to plead for mercy and give thanks for these enemies of the Cross!”

Does Paul really expect us to beg God’s mercy for those who ruthlessly inflict pain on us? Paul fully understood God’s great mercy and patience with him, “the worst of sinners” (1:16, nivniv). If we truly grasp the mercy and patience God has graciously given us, it’s easier to pray for mercy for our enemies. God’s mercy causes people to turn from evil and come to repentance. His mercy brings unlikely people to salvation (1:16). We can even thank God for our enemies because we know he uses everything—even them—to accomplish his good purposes.

GRACIOUS FATHER, thank you for your mercy that brought me to salvation. Thank you for using my enemies to drive me to my knees and to root out pride and produce humility. I pray for your mercy on the enemies of your Cross, mercy that will lead them to repentance and salvation. Thank you that in your mercy you use all things to fulfill your eternal purposes.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of Your garment. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.St. Nikolai of Zicha and Ochrid (1880–?)