We recently read a story in my freshman seminar class called, "The Inexplicable Prayers of Ruby Bridges" by Robert Coles. It was the story of a young black girl, Ruby Bridges, who challanged the educational system of New Orleans. During a time of segregation, she found herself in a white school. There she was met by angry mobs, who disapproved of her presence. The school was boycotted and even the local police refused to protect her. She had to be escoted through the mobs by federal marshalls. One day her teacher said she had seen Ruby talking to the people. Later when Ruby was questioned about it she explained that she was not talking to the people, but she was praying for them.
How amazing is that. She was not praying to God, asking for material things or even for herself. She prayed for the people, the same people who were only out to hurt her. She prayed for them because they had no idea what they were doing was wrong. She prayed for them because they could not pray for themselves.
Mark Twain had a similar idea when he said, "...who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?" The sad thing is he was right. We get so caught up in caring for ourselves and the people we love that we fail to see that it is those who are against us that need our prayers the most.
If you believe in the power of prayer, and believe that prayer changes things, I challange you, just as I challenge myself, to pray. To pray hard for the "Satan" in your life. It is by the Grace of God we are saved, for no man is worthy of such Grace. May no man believe he is better than the next. We are all one and we all fall short. So pray for your brother, pray for your friend, but most importantly pray for your enemy.
