“For even hereunto were you called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps;
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;
who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return;
when he suffered, he did not threaten,
but committed himself to Him who judges righteously;”
1 Peter 2:21-23

It is human nature when we are reviled, when we are rejected, to fight back. When someone has something hateful to say to or about us, we snap back automatically. But we are called to rise above that, as Christ set the example. Here he was, being reviled by men whom he actually created. Imagine it! WHAT condescension! WHAT humility!

Strive to follow his example. Remember that snapping back accomplishes nothing good, NOTHING at all. Rising above it as Christ would, opens the way for the Lord to become involved. Consider the person who is saying hateful things about you – this is a person who desperately needs PRAYER. I have found that sometimes the Lord allows someone to hurt me – as a signal that that person needs prayer, and if I don’t intercede for that person – who will?

The reason God asks us to pray for our enemies is not because of what they are doing to us, but because of what they are doing to themselves. Be sensitive to the possibility that the Lord is entrusting you with prayer for that person – if you can rise above the hurt and see the need.