Day 19 – Bless those who persecute you

“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.” Romans 12:14

From experience, I can testify to this verse coming alive for me. A few years ago, I received a letter from my employer to discuss reducing my salary. I was shocked, to say the least. The company was not under financial strain, and I worked more hours (unpaid, I might add) to get everything done. The drive home included a phone call to my husband and a friend familiar with labour law.

That night was difficult as my brain kept playing different scenarios like a play in my head. I tossed and turned and prayed – or actually more arguing with God about how hard I’ve worked and why I was treated like this. I clearly remember the next morning, a rainy Friday. After I dropped the kids and sat in the usual traffic, I said to God, “Please Lord, give me something to hold on to today. Something to give me strength and hope and encouragement.” Romans 12:14 popped into my head and immediately I looked it up on the Bible app on my phone. “What!”, I thought, “this is not what I want to hear God! I don’t feel like blessing them! I want fire and brimstone raining down!” I threw my phone on the seat with a “gmfp” while brooding further.

As I started my day I thought that maybe God has a point… I started blessing them and speaking blessings over them. I asked forgiveness if I might have cursed them and definitely for not speaking kindly. I asked that God bless them regardless of the outcome and that the company continue to grow. Then the meeting,… nothing happened. Somehow the focus changed to employing another employee to assist me. In that moment, I understood completely and wholly the impact of blessing those persecuting you. Whom your lips speak blessings and ask God to bless the prosecutors, raging storms turn to silent seas.

Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching me this valuable lesson and that You allowed me to share from experience bringing glory to You. Thank You, Lord, that we have the power in Your Name to bless our prosecutors and to ask that You bless them. Please forgive the times I cursed too quickly instead of thinking to bless. Amen.