“But I give myself to prayer” (Psalms 109:4)

When King David was viciously attacked, most of the time because he was the anointed of God, he didn’t defend himself, but prayed to God for comfort. While it’s entirely proper for God to punish evildoers, the Apostle Paul told us, “Repay no one evil for evil ... Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord’” (Romans 12:17-19). 

 When a saint is hurt, he needs to pray for the people that hurt him. As Christ said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Praying for the salvation of your enemy enables you to see him as God sees him ... a pitiful creature in need of God. 

 Most church-goers today think this command of Christ is optional, because it’s impossible to sincerely pray for someone you can’t forgive, and they think they can’t forgive an evil person. The answer to this dilemma is while forgiving an evil person is impossible without the supernatural help of God, since saints are commanded to do it, we must believe and act according to the grace God has given us. 

 Forgiving someone doesn’t make them less guilty, but restores your relationship with God. In order to walk in the knowledge that God has forgiven you, you must forgive. “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15). Only in this way can you maintain a sense of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).