I read The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide every day.  Today the author pointed out how common it is for us to pray for victims of crime with no thought of praying for those who have performed the crime.  Our first instinct is to look for justice and a way to even the score.

Scripture and the example of Christ point us toward a different way.  While it is great to pray for the victim of a crime we also need to pray for the offender.  Whether we like to realize it or not, the offender’s life is just as much a creation of God as the person who bears the burden of the crime.

All this is not to say that a criminal should not be punished or make restitution.  But Christ himself says we are to love our enemies.  I know it is hard work for me and I see it is hard work for others.  When I think about it, I really don’t like to have mandate to forgive enemies.  But on the other hand I want to be the best person I can be with the strength of Jesus supporting me.  So with this new encouragement from the devotional guide, I will work on praying for those I have up to this point been unwilling to lift before Jesus in prayer.  I am not sure where this prayer journey will take me.  But I do offer you join me in this prayer journey.  Please post your experience in praying for enemies as comments to this post.  Perhaps reading and praying together we all learn better how to pray when it is not our first instinct.  Be well, and i pray it is well with your soul today!