“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

–Matthew 6:12

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

–Matthew 5:44

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

–Romans 12:21

One of my sisters-in-Christ is in a bad situation right now, precipitated by a woman who has committed various misdeeds against others as well. This morning I was lifting it up in prayer and…

BAM!!

“Tell ‘M’ she needs to forgive and pray for this woman.”

“Oh, man, Lord, that’s gonna be a tough piece of news to relay…”

“Oh, yes,” He replied, “I know. And guess what, Shelbo? YOU have to forgive her and pray for her, too.”

“Dang. You caught that?”

See…yesterday, as my friend was relating the whole twisted debacle with tears swimming in her eyes, this little red-hot nugget of rage gathered in my core. The Mama Bear in me took over…

Grrrr! Growl!!! ROAR!!!!

And I had visions of kicking this nasty chick’s butt (or this chick’s nasty butt) to the moon and back.

More than once.

So, yeah, the Lord saw where my heart was, and He TOTALLY called me on it. With a personal injury, I can deal with the whole “forgive and pray” thing…but if they’ve injured someone I love?! Not. So. Much.

Ugh. Uff da.

Another piece of the prayer warrior puzzle…

I needed to pray, not just for the persecuted, but the persecutors, too.

Even if those persecutors have hurt “one of mine.”

When people say and do things to us that are void of love and compassion, it’s an assault. They steal our joy. They diminish our humanity. We take a hit in our soul. And if we’ve done nothing to provoke it, we’re left confused with a deep-down sense of injustice.

When a family member would get anxious about “the world today,” my grandma Elaine used to say, “Look in the Bible. There has always been war. There has always been evil.”

Mean people suck…apparently throughout history.

But we can flip that…

Mean people are also…LOST.

And the Bible, and “the world today,” are full of people “overcoming evil with good.” Fighting for the lost. And WINNING.

That’s what the cross is all about

The final battle and the final victory.

Some days I feel like I’m entering a skirmish armed only with a squirt gun. I lose sight of my Lord, my Commander. I forget to link up with my fellow warriors in Christ. I ignore the arsenal in reserve for my use.

One of the weapons always there is forgiveness.

When I swing forgiveness into the anger, resentment, or bitterness that tries to get a “toehold-hoping-to-become-a-stronghold” in my mind…as that sword slices in…the white-hot light of His love just eclipses it all in an explosion of Truth!

Hah! Take THAT!

And with hands raised high, I am able to take another step.

With Him.

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