The Prayer List

Yassir Eric knew his enemies when he was 16.

One was a classmate named Zakariya, a quiet Christian boy. He was Yasser’s enemy since Yassir was a Muslim who devoted himself to jihad.

His noon prayers were petitions to kill Zakariya.

He got his chance two years later. Zakariya walked alone when Yassir and a friend beat him and left him for dead.

Yassir beamed with pride when he noticed Zakariya had vanished from school.

But life takes a turn, and Yassir’s uncle became a Christian. His certainties got upended. He started reading the Bible in secret and became a Christian. Now, others beat him.

Later, he was preaching in Cairo when a man limped toward him. His right eye did not move, and his shriveled hand hung.

“Do you recognize me? I am Zakariya.” He shoved his Bible into Yassir’s hand. As Yassar opened it, on the first page was a prayer list. The first name on it was Yassir’s.

“Because you hated me so much,” Zakariya said, “I always prayed for you.

Jesus said to “love our enemies and pray for them.” It seems like an unreachable platitude. But it wasn’t. It was the way of the Master.

The next time you feel your jaw clench and your spirit tighten at someone who irritates you, look at the first page of your Bible.

Is their name on your prayer list?