Pray for the Happiness of Those Who Harm You

This is our B moment. Our moment to be still…to be fed by the Word of God…to be grateful.

Scripture reference: Luke 6:35 (NLT)

Transcription:

Today, I am thinking about when God asks you to do the really difficult.

Recently I was reading in the gospel of Luke when I stumbled upon these words: “Pray for the happiness of those who curse you.” I was immediately drawn to the word “happiness.”

If a person intentionally hurts me, I can pray for their healing because as the saying goes, hurt people end up hurting other people. So, I can pray for their emotional healing and well-being.

Yet in this passage, Jesus takes it a step further. He says to pray for their happiness. This is what prompted me to conclude that sometimes God can ask us to do the really difficult.

To be honest, there have been times when I’ve been in a great season where I send others love whether they like me or not. Then there have been those times when my season was one of being in the desert, where God was pruning me and preparing me. This meant my ability to tolerate any additional pain seemed to be limited.

I’m praying each day for my own happiness and for the happiness of those who love me and support me through my season. Yet praying for the happiness of someone causing me harm? This is a different concept entirely, but Jesus teaches us that this is what it means to act as children of the Most High.

Whose happiness do you need to pray for today? As you think about that, remember these words from Jesus: “Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High.” Luke 6:35 (NLT)

Please share this reflection as others desire to be inspired.

So today, pray for their happiness.