BY Chelsie Brymer
Years ago, we were in a conflict with our financial advisor. The man had broken several laws and was bizarrely intent on making our lives very difficult. The betrayal and the strife were overwhelming. My stomach turned. I couldn’t sleep. Now, looking back, I see this season as one of the greatest blessings of my life in the Lord. This is when I learned how to pray strategically. Not strategic for a particular outcome's sake, but strategic for training my mind and body to rest in prayer and in friendship with Jesus.
When I laid down to sleep, my stomach filled with stress and I was overcome with angst. I turned to prayer and hope for my vindication in the Lord…this did not bring relief. Yet, on one such evening, I heard, “PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMY.” Hesitantly, I considered what this could mean and realized that Jesus called me to love this enemy as myself. Myself? Myself was TIRED. Myself wanted to SLEEP. So, I began to pray for HIM to be able to sleep. I prayed that he would wake up well-rested and that, in this reprieve of rest, he would see the hand of God on him so he may be awakened to the light and salvation of the one who was giving him this rest. At last, my heart had rest too.
Oh, but by day, my stomach churned. I was fearful of how the man wanted to harm my family. “PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMY.” I prayed that his heart would be turned toward his children and his children’s hearts towards him. I prayed that his wife would become a woman of prayer and that she would stand in faith in the Lord. I prayed that he would be surrounded by believers everywhere he went and that he would not be able to turn away from the goodness of God.
AT LAST IT CLICKED. Every moment angst came to consume my soul, I immediately turned it to a prayer of blessing over the one causing the trouble and even strategically pray for him everything that I wanted for myself. Ha! Lord, may he prosper and his family bless him and may he have a solid night’s sleep! This strategy made so much sense! If this guy’s soul was satisfied, maybe he’d get off my tail! However, the Lord was sending me an invitation to something so much greater than conflict resolution.
My new prayer life did not eliminate the angst. Oddly, I even began to welcome those moments. My stomach turning was an invitation to be friends with Jesus. Jesus, the One who is constantly interceding for me, invited me to pray WITH Him. As we consecrate our hearts to the Lord, offer him your angst. Answer the invitations that are sent to your gut. PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES.
Matthew 5: 38-48
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.