Prayer Tip--Doing All for the Glory of God, Intellect and Action

Is there someone in your life that you find very difficult to love? Maybe someone who has hurt you, or frustrated you, or just shows you no love or care at all? If we are honest, we all have someone, maybe a whole group of someones, who are very difficult to love as you love yourself.

The best way I know to love someone, even if you really don’t feel anything approaching love toward that person, is to pray for them. By name. Every day, for at least 6 weeks. And here’s the tough part: you can’t pray for God to change them or their behavior. You must pray for their needs to be met, for their hurts to be healed, for them to see and feel God’s love for them. All the things you want and pray for yourself.

The first time someone challenged me to do this, I thought it was crazy. I felt absolutely no love for the person in question. The challenger said, “But you agree that God loves *******, don’t you? Pray for them to receive the love and care, healing and support that you want for yourself. If God asks, be prepared to provide for those needs in any way God empowers you to do it.”

So, who is God calling you to pray for? Don’t worry if your thoughts about this person (or group of people) are dark and you don’t feel any love for them. God does. You don’t have to be like them or approve of hurtful behavior. You have to ask God to help you see them with God’s eyes, and to help you pray for their good and that they feel God’s love every day. AND, because God loves us and does not want us to carry the heavy burden of hating another human being, you will feel God’s love yourself.