en·e·my – a person or thing that harms or weakens another.
Pray for your enemies.
This was drilled into me and the other kids at Sunday school.
It didn’t make any sense to me.
Why would you want to pray for people who deliberately and maliciously hurt you?
None of the adults could elaborate on this teaching or share from their own life experiences to make it make sense to me.
“It’s just what you’re supposed to do,” they said.
“Don’t ask too many questions.”
“Do as you’re told.”
And that was it.
It wasn’t until I grew up and went through my own hell with my own enemies and was able to find compassion for them in the midst of my own storm that the mystery of this spiritual teaching finally revealed itself to me.
You pray for your enemies because they're the ones who need God the most.
Here’s the thing: when you are going through the trials and tribulations of life AND you have a spiritual relationship with the Divine, you’re able to fight your battles with God on your side.
You will be shown what to do, how to move, where to go, what to say, when to say it.
You will uncover your spiritual gifts.
You will also have a deep sense of internal peace and knowing that you WILL come out victorious on the other side.
The thing about our enemies is they don’t have God’s hand on their lives. If they did, they wouldn’t be running around persecuting anyone because God would swiftly convict them and teach them to course correct.
If you know, you know.
This is why they need our prayers.
But how do you pray for them without feeling like your prayer is just going to help them get away with their bad behaviour?
This is the prayer that I prayed when I was going through some of the most difficult times in my life:
God, following your example and command, I pray for my enemies today. I first ask that you saturate my life with your holy spirit’s power and might. Send your love flowing through me and forgive me for holding on to anything that could hinder my prayers. I release any unforgiveness, thoughts of revenge, or hateful emotions. Then give me wisdom as I seek how to bless, to love and to pray for my enemies.
I pray for you to bless (make holy - morally & spiritually excellent / devoted to the service of God) my enemies and orchestrate events in their lives that will leave their hearts exposed before you. I pray that you would give them a spirit that recognizes their deep need for you. I pray they will discover your comfort in times of mourning and they would be humbled before you—in your way and your time. I pray that you would show them mercy before it is too late—knowing that I too was once someone's enemy before you extended mercy to me—and that they would, in turn, be merciful to others.
I pray that instead of lusting for pure evil, they would hunger and thirst for your purity and righteousness, become advocates of your justice and that their warring spirits would be changed into peacemaking. Remove the façade of happiness that they portray; tear down the lies that have deceived them; and hedge their ways until they can see no way out but up. I pray you would show them the futility of what they are doing because in opposing your kingdom and in their darkness, they are often oblivious about the true reasons for their behaviour and resulting consequences. Reveal to them any deep hurts or traumas in their own lives that may be contributing to their destructive actions.
Knowing how you sometimes use pain and difficulty to bring blessing to my own life, I pray the same for my enemies. Soften their stony hearts, open their blind eyes and help them realize their ultimate neediness for you and experience your blessing in the ways that you deem fit and necessary. Speak to them in miraculous, supernatural ways. In some way, let them witness your power and recognize that you are the source. I pray for conviction, for an honest evaluation of their own destiny and for whatever it takes for them to consider your claims and to discover who you really are. Lead them to repentance and give me patience and a deep trust in you, even when I can’t see any changes in them. When I waver, not wanting to pray for my enemies, help me to remember your grace (free & unmerited/undeserved favour of God) in my own life and what I would be without you.
God asks us to pray for our enemies so we can be set apart from the regular degulars of the world.
So that we may be prime examples of who he is and the work he is actively doing in our lives.
And so no one and nothing else can take credit for our character, victories and immense joy, bliss and peace that follows our spiritual battles.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you only love those who love you, what reward will you get?”
– Matthew 5:44 – 46
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