A Prayer for Yourself

to be able to righteously deal with your enemies

Here is a prayer written by English Reformer Thomas Becon (1511-1567) that combines the examples of Christ and Stephen with the teachings of Jesus concerning how we are to respond to our enemies. In these days when our culture is filled with rage and it seems everyone reacts with venom to those with whom they disagree, a prayer like this might need to be prayed often. And so, I offer it to you as one you can personalize and pray:

Slay in us our old corrupt and cankered nature by taking away from us our stony heart, and by giving us a fleshly heart, that we, through the operation of your Holy Spirit, may be content, according to your blessed will and commandment, and after the example of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and of that blessed martyr Stephen, freely and even from the very heart to forgive our enemies, to speak well of them, to love them, and to do for them whatsoever lies in our power, and by the means unfeignedly show ourselves to be your sons, who causes the sun to arise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

Amen.