Have you ever had a difficult time loving someone who wronged you? Forget loving, do you have a hard time even liking them? What about someone who tore you down and persecuted you? That can be even harder to forgive. Pain and bitterness prevent us from being able to move on and really love like Jesus loves. Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
When I was young there was this girl who made it very hard to be positive. She would say hateful things and treat me like I was nothing. There were many days I would go home very discouraged and cry. Instead of harbouring bitterness, I decided to start praying for this girl every night. I started to notice my attitude toward her change. I would smile and not allow her comments to affect me. What surprised me was that she started being nice and treating me with respect. We developed an understanding and while we weren’t friends, I began to see her the way God created her: in His image. I prayed that God would bless her and I experienced a blessing myself. I got to see God work in my life and hers.
When you pray for God to do a work in someone’s life, He will do amazing things. He will bless you and you will get to be a part of what He is doing.