Pray for Your Enemies

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)

Who do you automatically think of when the words “enemy” or “enemies” are used? Do you have a particular person come to mind? Does a certain situation play out in your mind? Is it personal for you or do you think about that word more generally (as in ISIS or terrorists, etc.)?

I think sometimes there are seasons of life. Sometimes we have personal enemies. Sometimes we don’t. Other times “enemy” might seem like too strong of a word, but we still harbor feelings of hurt or abuse caused by someone else. It can be difficult to think of these people who cause us pain in a positive light, much less think of having to forgive, love, and pray for them. However, scripture is very clear what our response to our enemies should be. It is also quite clear in directing us to love and pray for our enemies.

Our response to our enemies should be…

To love and to pray:

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28 (NIV)

To control our own temper and overlook an offense or a wrong:

“If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it.” Proverbs 19:11 (GNT)

“Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, and it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].” Proverbs 19:11 (AMP)

To respond with kindness and not retaliate:

“If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22 (NLT)

“Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:14-21 (NLT)

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” Luke 6:27-36 (NLT)

To forgive:

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” Luke 23:34 (NLT)

“And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:60 (ESV) [Stephen said this when he was stoned to death]

To NOT be like Jonah–by avoiding the Lord’s direction on how to respond to our enemies or by getting angry at the Lord’s compassion toward our enemies and thinking we know better about what they deserve:

“But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.” Jonah 1:3 (NLT)

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-2 (NIV)

Things to remember and keep in mind when dealing with our enemies…

We need to remember who our TRUE ENEMY is. It is Satan, not people. The devil uses people. There spiritual forces behind the person or people who cause us pain. Sometimes even unbeknownst to them.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

We need to remember that WE used to be God’s enemies. We have played the role of enemy too.

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” Romans 5:10 (NLT)

Take Some Practical Steps to Pray for Your Enemies:

• Pray for them to turn to God, for their salvation and conversion, and for God to rescue them from darkness.

We should ask God to show the same grace to them as He has done for us. We should be like Paul and desire salvation for even those who make life hard for us.

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” Romans 10:1 (ESV)

“Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus].” Acts 26:18 (NIV)

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)

• Pray that they will come to know the peace of Christ and that it will rule in their hearts instead of being led by conflict.

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

• Pray that God will give them a new heart, a new spirit, and help them to be tender and responsive instead of cold-hearted and stubborn.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)

• Pray that God will give your enemies wisdom and insight and that He will open their eyes and hearts.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” Ephesians 1:17-18 (NIV)

• Pray that God would guide them to the truth.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” John 16:13 (NLT)

“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” John 17:17 (NLT)

• Pray that your enemies would hear God’s voice and not harden their hearts to it.

“That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.” Hebrews 3:7-8 (NLT)

• Pray for God to give them the desire and the power to do what’s right and to instruct them in the way they should go.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13(NLT)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

• Pray for them to stop being unkind and/or harming people.

“Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.” Psalm 21:11 (NIV)

“The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life” Psalm 121:7 (NIV)

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

• Pray for God to heal THEIR wounds…because hurting people hurt people.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

• Pray the Lord’s Prayer for them.

There’s a great article by John Piper about this: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/pray-for-those-who-abuse-you

“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)

• Pray that any correction they receive or even attacks from Satan will turn them back to the Lord.

“It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.” Hebrews 12:11 (CEV)

“Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25 (CEV)

“You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn’t listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God.” 1 Timothy 1:19-20 (CEV)

• Finally, pray for their forgiveness.

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” Luke 23:34 (NLT)

“And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:60 (ESV)

Prayer for My Enemies

Lord,

I pray for my enemies today. I ask that you would turn them to you, rescue them from darkness, and lead them to salvation. Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. Help them to be ruled by peace and not conflict. Give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them. Take out their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart. Please give them a spirit of wisdom and insight and open their eyes and hearts. Guide them to the truth. Help them to hear your voice and not harden their hearts to it. Give them the desire and the power to do what’s right and instruct them in the way that they should go. Help them to stop being unkind to people and keep them from harming others. Heal their wounds because hurting people hurt people. Let your will be done in their lives. Meet their needs and help them to forgive. Show them the way out of their temptation and deliver them. Please let any correction they receive or even attacks from Satan turn them back to you. Lastly, please forgive them, they might not even know how they are hurting people. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Here are some previous posts that might also be relevant or helpful when dealing with enemies:

• When You Are Wronged, Stay On God’s Side
• Prayer for When You’re Verbally Attacked
• Scriptures to help when you feel attacked or persecuted
• How to Respond When People Offend You
• How to Respond to Comments…especially in touchy situations
• Scriptures About Speaking To Others And Knowing What To Say
• Funny Friday: Love Your Enemies
• KMS: Keep Mouth Shut
• Defining Tolerance
• Make Others Feel Taller NOT Smaller

How do you pray for your enemies? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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