What Jesus Did! 'The Power of Prayer to Change and Redeem' — Luke 6:28

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Your Support Matters!

Our materials help people live for Jesus every day thanks to generous readers like you.

 Donate Now
[Jesus said,] "Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you."
— Luke 6:28 NLT

Key Thought

Prayer has the power to change us. We can change as we see God's power work in people who have cursed and/or hurt us and make them into better people. Seeing their change helps us to continue our changing to be more like Jesus. However, even when folks don't change, prayer changes us as we offer ourselves to God for his service. We praise him for the magnificent God he is and the incredible things he has done as we open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit as he is involved in our prayer. God can change our hearts as we seek to honor him by doing what is right. In this case, it is praying for those for whom we wouldn't naturally want to pray. Such prayer is an act of faith and submission: "Father, may what is accomplished be what you will and not what I want." While such prayer is unnatural, we are unnatural! We are God's spiritual children. Redeeming those lost in hate, bitterness, rage, and malice is important to us. Our goal is to have those who mistreat us find their way into the Kingdom and become our brothers or sisters in Christ. We must pray!

Today's Prayer

Father, I know of several people who do not wish me well. They love it when I stumble. They rejoice when I hurt. They delight in my failures. Father, I first ask that they can come to know Jesus and have your Spirit minister to their deepest hurts and transform them into your children. Give me strength as I seek your presence so that you can bless them. Help me release all vindictiveness, desires for vengeance, bitterness, and malice. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Luke 22:46
  • Galatians 5:18-26
  • 1 Peter 3:9

Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, April 4, 2019

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'My Body a Temple' (1 Co. 6:12-13)
"Dear Father, powerful and holy God, Help me to understand that even though all things may be lawful for me, all things are not helpful. Keep me from...."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Hope Born in Hostile Times' (Acts 7:17-21)
"[As Stephen continued his defense, he moved from God's deliverance of his people through Joseph and began to tell the story of Moses:] "As the time..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 2:21-22
"For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from....."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Francis J. Spellman:
"Pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended on man."

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 6:28 NLT — [Jesus said,] "Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!