When Jesus was asked how to pray, he gave the Lord’s Prayer as an example. In this prayer, Jesus teaches his disciples to ask God to forgive them their debts, as they forgive their debtors.
This is one of the most difficult commands of Christ, but it is also one of the most important. We are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. So what does God say about praying for your enemies?
In this blog post, we will explore what the Bible says about praying for your enemies and consider why it is so important. We will look at both Old Testament and New Testament examples of people who prayed for their enemies, and we will see how their prayers were answered. Finally, we will learn how we can apply this principle to our own lives.
The Old Testament teaches us that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In the book of Leviticus, God says, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18).
This command is repeated in the New Testament in the book of Matthew, where Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).
So we see that both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
But why praying for your enemies is important?
There are a few reasons why praying for your enemies is so important.
- First, when we pray for our enemies, we are following the command of Christ. As we have seen, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is not a suggestion; it is a command. And when we obey Christ’s commands, we are living in a way that pleases God.
- Second, when we pray for our enemies, we are demonstrating the love of Christ. When we love our enemies and pray for them, we are showing them the same love and forgiveness that Christ has shown us. We are showing them that they are valuable to us, even though they may not be valuable to anyone else.
- Third, when we pray for our enemies, we are giving them an opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness. When we pray for our enemies, we are asking God to work in their hearts and change them. We are giving them a chance to turn from their wicked ways and be saved.
- Fourth, when we pray for our enemies, we are setting an example for others. When we pray for our enemies, we are showing the world that we are different. We are showing that we are not like them; we are not vindictive or hateful. We are showing that we love our enemies and that we are willing to forgive them.
- Fifth, when we pray for our enemies, we are releasing them from our own anger and hatred. When we pray for our enemies, we are letting go of our own anger and hatred toward them. We are asking God to forgive them, and we are trusting Him to deal with them in His own way and in His own time.
- Lastly, when we pray for our enemies, we are opening ourselves up to God’s blessings. When we pray for our enemies, we are asking God to bless them. And when we ask God to bless them, he will surely bless us as well.
“Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28)
