How Do I Love My Enemies?ਨਮੂਨਾ

Praying for Enemies

I don’t think I have ever had a real “enemy” in my life.

I have had people I have disliked or wanted very little to do with. But I don’t think I could ever describe any of them as my “enemy.”

Still, there are people who have treated me unfairly or hurt me without cause.

I can think of one particular example of this:

There was a man whom I highly respected. We were close friends. Then something happened, and I felt that he treated me in a very unfair way. I was deeply hurt by this. I didn’t want to have anything more to do with him.

But my great Lord Jesus wouldn’t let me remain that way.

He kept bringing this man’s name to my mind and asking me what I was going to do about him in a way that honored Jesus.

Ugh. I didn’t want to think about it.

The reality was that I didn’t really know what to do. I didn’t know how to fix the problem in me.

I was meditating on the Sermon on the Mount at the time, and I came to today’s verse in Matthew 5:44 that says, “…and pray for those who persecute you.” This man wasn’t “persecuting” me, but the principle was the same.

And I definitely hadn’t been praying for him.

Now, I didn’t want to obey the command of my Master, but I knew that I needed to. So, I started to pray for this man. I prayed blessing on him. I prayed blessing on his marriage, his work, and his health. I prayed that he would understand more and more how deeply God loved him.

And an amazing thing began to take place in my heart.

Forgiveness started to enter. Love began to grow again. Today, our friendship has been completely restored, and I can tie it all back to Jesus’ command to pray for those who are my “enemies.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, You know how painful it is when people hurt You—You experienced it and yet prayed for them (Luke 23:34). It is so hard to pray for someone when I am mad at them or feel they have offended me. Help me to be like You. Help me to pray for them. Help me to bring them before You with a genuine desire to have You bless them. Please, give me the words to say so I may glorify You and experience healing in me. Amen.

Reflection: Have you ever thought about praying for your enemies? If they were someone you loved, what would you want Jesus to do in their lives? Pray those kinds of prayers for the others today—God will miraculously change you!