“Love thy neighbor…” (Matthew 22:39) Easier said than done when your neighbor is boundary-blind, convinced everyone wants to listen to 50 Cent at 10,000 decibels or thinks your garden gnome would look great in their yard instead.

Or worse.

After the twentieth gnome-napping, do you find yourself praying for your neighborhood nemesis like Mr. Rogers from “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” or Mr. Heckles, the cranky neighbor from “Friends”?

Mr. Rogers' Prayers

• Lord, help my neighbors find their lost cat. It's sad to lose something you love.

Mr. Heckles’ Prayers 

• Don't let my neighbors find their cat, God. I want to keep him. I've named him Bob Buttons.
  
  
• Lord, when I see my neighbor, help me to remember that I speak with more than my mouth and listen with more than my ears
  
  
• It's been a hot day. Lord, I offer my pool for my neighbor to cool his feet if he needs it.
  
• God, tell the noisy girls upstairs to knock it off. They are interrupting my oboe playing. I could be playing the oboe.
  
  
• God, the kids' monkey is mine. I've named her Patty and dressed her as a ballerina.
  

Scripture is clear which style of prayer we should employ. “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) Which is usually the last thing we want to do.

While prayers for a successful bunny-napping of your neighbor's porch ornament does bring the balm of revenge, it won't truly bring peace or security. It will just lead to more animals being dressed in costumes and more banging on a ceiling with a broom. And that's not good for anyone.

When we follow God's mandate to love and pray for our neighbors, God's blessings will unfold. First, when we pray, God allows us to be changed. And it's our growth which is usually what is required to rise above earthly situations. Second, it's hard to be angry and bitter at someone for whom you earnestly pray; bitterness taints your soul, not theirs. And, third, it transfers the people and problems to God's power and will, freeing us from the fear, anger and burden of solving the situation on our own.

While God did design us to need healthy boundaries, He also knows commanding us to pray for our enemies lovingly is what will transform us from Mr. Heckles to Mr. Rogers.

Share