The freshman class was sworn into Congress last week in the midst of a government shutdown that neither side of the aisle seems to be happy with. Neither side is willing to compromise on the budget, especially concerning border control. Both sides blame the other for the shutdown. Why can't the Republicans compromise on the wall? Why can't the Democrats understand the danger of illegal immigration? Perhaps the freshman class will bring some fresh air into the situation and the budget can be resolved.

While our government is so divided, we need to be in prayer for our leaders—and not just the leaders we like. It's easy to pray for the women and men that we like and helped elect; we are proud of them and want to see them flourish as they represent us. But what about the elected officials we don't like, the people we voted against, the side of the aisle that seems to be destroying this country? If they are as awful as we think, shouldn't we be praying for them? And if it turns out that we have more in common than we thought, shouldn't we be praying for them as much as we pray for others we share common ground with?

And I don't just mean praying for their salvation, that they'll come to recognize the error of their ways and surrender to Christ. We should pray that for everyone, no matter what side of the aisle they sit on. We're all sinners saved by grace, after all. What I mean is deeper and far more personal—pray for your political enemies as you would pray for your personal friends. Pray for the little things, from a good cup of coffee in the morning to an easy commute home in the evening. Pray for the big things, from the flourishing of their children to a blessing on their health.

Praying for and loving your enemies seems impossible, but it's a direct order from Jesus. If anyone can direct us to care about our enemies, it's the perfect Son of God who prayed for the people who crucified Him despite His innocence. While it may seem that the leader of the other side of the aisle, Nancy Pelosi for the Democrats and Donald Trump for the Republicans, has killed innocence either in the form of unborn children or children at the border, the example of Jesus proves that such action doesn't disqualify them from prayer. Nothing disqualifies someone from prayer.

Praying for our enemies is the only way we're going to heal the division plaguing our nation. No matter what you think the other side of the aisle is doing to further that divide, take a deep breath and pray for them.

If you can't stomach praying for your enemies for their benefit, pray for them for your own benefit. Praying for and loving your enemies is a mark that you're a child of God. The more you pray for your enemies, the more you'll look like Jesus.

It's not going to be easy. But praying for the people we disagree with is the only way we're going to bring healing to our nation because it asks for the involvement of the only One who can bring lasting change: God.

2019 is a new year with new hopes. Make a resolution this year to bring hope to our nation by praying for the other side of the aisle.