Saturday Prayer: Help Me Love My Enemy

Jesus, you command me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. I have a specific enemy - someone who hurt me, betrayed me, opposed me. My natural response is hatred, desire for revenge, hope for their punishment. But you loved me when I was your enemy, died for me while I was still sinning against you. Help me love like that.

Give me power to pray for their good even when I want to pray for their punishment. Soften my heart toward them. When I have opportunity to harm them, help me refuse revenge and trust you with justice. When possible, help me do them good - meeting needs, showing compassion, treating them as humans deserving love rather than enemies deserving harm.

Help me maintain boundaries while loving. I can love them from a distance, pray for them while protecting myself, seek their good while refusing their harm. Love isn't the same as trust. I don't have to trust them again immediately or accept ongoing abuse to love them. Show me what loving this specific enemy looks like practically. I can't do this in my own strength. I need your love flowing through me.