HOW DO WE PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES?

Sometimes our emotions drive us to wish that they would die. If only God would remove the one who causes me so much pain. I would be much better off if I didn’t have this huge obstacle in my life.

Jesus instructs us to pray for our enemies. Does He join us in wanting them out of the way so that we no longer must deal with this trial? Will He conveniently remove the one who offends us in answer to our prayers?

It’s not our prayers He hears as much as our hearts. Perhaps we even pray hypocritical prayers like – “Lord, bless my enemy! “, with the unspoken words, “… by moving them out of my way.”

What does God think of a situation like this? Would it really help if He took that person out of my life? Would it change my heart if I no longer had to wrestle with anger, resentment, and bitterness? Would God’s peace be restored to me?

Strangely enough, it’s not my enemy who is the problem. I have become my own enemy. My attitude is destroying me. Only grace can rescue me from the pit of sin I have fallen into. My unwillingness to forgive, to cancel the debt and let my offender go free, makes me a guilty offender.

What does grace do?

Grace, first, reveals the greatness of the mercy God has extended to me through Jesus. Apart from grace, I am as guilty of sin as my offender.

Second, grace reveals God’s heart to me. He does not delight in punishing but in saving all those who come to Him. He forgives and restores the repentant heart.

Third, how does He bring a sinner to repentance? Not by beating him over the head with his sin! Not by turning up the heat of his guilt! Not by hammering him with condemnation!

“And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

Romans 2:3-4 NKJV

That’s it, dear brothers, and sisters! It’s God’s goodness, not judgment or condemnation, that leads us to repentance. His ways are not our ways… His thoughts are not our thoughts!

Can you, then with a sincere heart, pray that God would shower His goodness on your offender? That’s God’s way of bringing him/her to his/her senses. Let God be the judge and the redeemer.

PRAYER

Father, forgive me for taking on myself the role of judge and executioner. Forgive my arrogance, that I dared to think that I am above the one who offended me. I repent of the foolish notion that I can set the standards of right and wrong for others and excuse myself.

Change my heart by your grace, O God. Give me the heart of Jesus who prayed that you would forgive those who unjustly condemned Him to death. I ask you, Father, to shower your goodness on……. and help me to pray your blessing on…… with a sincere heart.

Teach me, Holy Spirit, to see the enormity of the debt of sin I owe you, and the greatness of your mercy to me. Help me to see clearly that I am not the judge of those who sin against me but one who stands with them to receive your mercy and forgiveness.