Pray for Your Enemies

MTL MAGAZINE : BRINGING WOMEN MORE TO LIFE : DH

Pray for your enemies

by June Hunt




Have you noticed an assortment of difficult people to be in your life? If so, I understand! Many years ago, I felt deeply hurt by a family member whose tongue and tartness were consistently cruel. I simply prayed, "God, I don't know what to do."



A short time later, I saw a Scripture I'd never noticed before: I Samuel 12:23, "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you."



The truth is, I had not been praying for her—nor had that thought even crossed my mind. Yet, motivated by this verse, I began praying... and eventually healing began, both in our relationship and in my heart.



If I were to pick a "companion verse," it would have to be the often-quoted, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). While most people feel drawn to these merciful words of Jesus, many feel resistant when challenged to actually do it. "You want me to do what? Pray for the person who hurt me? That's asking too much!"



I understand that rationale. I once would have chafed against the very notion. It runs counter to our nature. From a human standpoint, genuinely praying for our enemies seems impossible. But we realize that the Bible says, "With God, nothing is impossible" (Luke 1:37) and God often asks us to do things that go against our natural way of thinking and feeling.



Praying for your enemy is not optional—it is commanded by Christ. But what did He really mean by these words?