Friday, July 18, 2008

prayer for our enemies

For Our Enemies

God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

from Book of Common Prayer

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a great prayer. Something I don't often think about is bringing our enemies into reconciation. Thanks for waking me up.

Anonymous said...

God, the Father of all.
Jesus Christ our Lord.
wonderful.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Mike,
I love this prayer, also. A difficult circumstance, the Lord stepped into rather dramatically today, in my own life, opened the way for me to find this prayer. One good thing coming out of a difficult situation, but not the only good thing! Thanks.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Amen, Nancy. Amen.

Every Square Inch said...

I think praying for our enemies is essentially Christian and otherworldly

Ted M. Gossard said...

ESI,
Thanks for that.

I think what Jesus taught and the path he took is unique in reference to enemies. To reconcile them to God and to all other of humnandkind.

What Jesus did, and this prayer all seem to be about relationship. And we in Jesus are to live that out even FOR our enemies. They can potentially then see Jesus in us by the work of the Spirit, and end up being changed.