5 Powerful Ways To Pray For Your Enemies

Are you looking for advice on how to pray for your enemies? The Bible set the example on how God expects christians to handle toxic people and hurtful situations.

I know. It’s hard. Especially in the beginning, before you’ve learned to set boundaries and work on your own inner healing.

See the 5 powerful ways to pray for your enemies below.

Look at the story of Job in the Bible. He had 3 close friends that once they heard of his great suffering to travelled far to be with him.

At the sight of his great suffering they all sat together in silence for a week! Sounds like amazing friend, right?

That’s were it all went down hill.

After they broke their silence they each took their turn of falsely accusing Job of sinning. Job’s dearest friends went on and on about how Job must have sinned, because only this kind of suffering is God’s wrath on a sinful man.

How defeated and hurt Job must have felt. And it is a great example for us christians today to be careful to not judge so quickly because w may not fully understand the situation or worse…be on the wrong side of the situation and cause just as much damage to the suffering.

In any situation where you find yourself in a toxic relationship, always take the matter to God in prayer.

Cry out to Him to “receive mercy and find grace” to help in the time of need (Hebrews 4:16). “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Unceasingly petition the Lord to change the heart of the person bringing the toxicity into the relationship. There is hope and healing in Him.

Related: God Is Bigger Than Your Problems

What Does God Say About Praying For Your Enemies

God says to pray for your enemies and love them. He says to bless those who curse you and do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:28)

God is love, and He desires for us to extend that love to everyone, even those who may not deserve it.

By praying for our enemies, we are showing them the love and forgiveness that God has shown us.

It is a way to extend grace to those who may not deserve it. It is a way of showing that we are followers of Christ.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:44-48

What does this passage tell us about how we are to treat our enemies?

We are to love them and pray for them. Why?

Because that is what our heavenly Father does.

He causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike. If we only love those who love us, we are no different than anyone else.

But if we love our enemies and pray for them, we are imitating our Father in heaven and being perfect as He is perfect.

Let me emphasis, this doesn’t mean we do not set healthy boundaries to protect ourselves. We can forgive and pray for our enemies and still keep a distance between us and them.

Related: Bible Verses When You Feel Rejected

How Should I Pray For My Enemies

When it comes to praying for your enemy, there are a few different ways you can go about it.

Everyone’s situation is different. But, you can pray for their repentance, salvation and for justice or restoration.

• When you pray for your enemy’s repentance, you are asking God to help them see the error of their ways, the massive damage they are causing and turn them back to the right path.

• When you pray for your enemy’s salvation, you are essentially asking for God to change the life, their hard heart, and their terrible thought process. Essentially, you are asking God to heal them and completely change them.

• Finally, when you pray for justice or restoration, you are asking God to bring them to justice. For God to see, fix and heal the damage that has been done at the hands of the enemy.

I also want to encourage you to be praying for your own healing as you pray for your enemies. God doesn’t want you holding on to any bitterness or hate in your heart for your enemy.

Ask God to help you heal and set healthy boundaries.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 

Proverbs 25:21-22

Related: Pray For Those That Hurt You

Why Do We Need To Pray For Our Enemies

Christians should pray for their enemies for a number of reasons.

First, it is a commandment from God to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

Second, when we pray for our enemies, we are demonstrating the love and forgiveness that Jesus showed us when He died on the cross for our sins.

Third, praying for our enemies can lead to their salvation.

Finally, when we pray for our enemies, we are blessed by God. An example of this is Job. When he prayed for his friends, who continually spoke falsely against him, the Bible says that God restored what Job lost x2. What a blessing!

I pray the Holy Spirit guides you and comforts you as you move forward in setting boundaries and praying for your enemies.

Related: 10 Reminders When You Feel Like God Doesn’t Care

How Do You Pray For Those That Hurt You

5 Powerful Ways To Pray For Your Enemy

There are many practical ways we can pray for those that hurt us, even if you think they don’t deserve it.

Love your enemies scripture.

Here are five ways to pray for your enemy, plus some corresponding bible verses to help guide you:

1. Pray for their repentance and forgiveness – “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)
2. Pray for their salvation – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
3. Pray for their healing – “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)
4. Pray for their healing from their past pain and suffering that my be causing their current behavior. – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)
5. Pray for their wisdom and guidance. That God will open their eyes to be aware of the damage they are causing. – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)
6. Additionally, pray for your own heart. To forgive this enemy. To learn and set healthy boundaries with the enemy. For God to remove any unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment you may have in your heart towards this person who has personally hurt you.

“Psalm 1 gives specific instructions about keeping away from wicked fools. We are blessed when we do not seek out friendships with them or listen to their counsel. Toxic people fit into that category. They are not content to destroy their own lives; they must take others with them. It helps to remember that you cannot change a toxic person, especially from within a toxic relationship. You cannot help toxic people unless they want to be helped.” – Got Questions

What Happens When You Pray For Your Enemies

When you pray for toxic people in your life, it’s important to remember that you’re not responsible for their actions or their wellbeing.

You’re simply offering up a prayer for them, in hopes that they may find peace and healing in whatever way they need it so their harmful behaviors stop.

It’s a selfless act that can often be difficult, but it’s important to remember that we all have our own journeys to walk.

Praying for toxic people doesn’t mean you have to condone their behavior or be friends with them. And who knows, maybe your prayers will be answered in ways you never could have imagined.

See the pray for your enemies Bible verse below.

Love Your Enemies Bible Verse

Did the Bible say pray for your enemies?

Watch this short video on Luke 6:35 and how we are to love our enemies.

The call to love your enemy does not mean we don’t set healthy boundaries.

Pray for your enemies is like heaping coals.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
         And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head,
         And the LORD will reward you.

Proverbs 25:21-22

Remember the story of the good samaritan? God wants us to have a heart like that. To follow that example in loving others. To walk in forgiveness and not wish harm on our enemies.

Again, trauma takes time to heal from and that’s okay. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. It also doesn’t always mean reconciliation. Healthy boundaries are necessary and loving.

Prayer Points When Praying For Your Enemy

10 ways to pray for your enemy today:

1. Pray for God to give your enemy a heart of repentance and forgiveness.

2. Pray for God to open their eyes to the truth and show them the right path.

3. Pray for God to protect your enemy from any harm or danger as they seek Him.

4. Pray for God to fill your enemy with His love and grace.

5. Pray for God to give your enemy wisdom and understanding in all matters of life.

6. Pray for God to provide your enemy with all their needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

7. Pray for God to grant your enemy peace, joy, and contentment in life as they turn their life over to Him.

8. Pray for God to break any strongholds of sin or evil in your enemy’s life and replace it with His righteousness and holiness.

9. Pray that the Lord will use you as an instrument of reconciliation between you and your enemy, if it is His will.

10. Pray that the Lord will bless your enemy abundantly, both spiritually and materially as they seek God with all their hearts.

Prayer For My Enemy

What is a prayer to pray for my enemy? Use this daily prayer to help you pray for your enemies.

Abba Father, I pray for my enemy today. I pray that You convict their hearts of the damage they are causing. I pray that they may be free from the pain/suffering and bad thought patters from their past that may be causing their current negative behaviors. I pray that they may be aware of their sin and be repentant in their hearts. I pray that they will work on restoring the damage they have caused. Help me to forgive and set healthy boundaries in an effort to limit any further damage from this person. I pray for my enemy today, and I ask that you would help them seek Your face, Lord, with all their hearts. And help me to not repay evil for evil. In Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Related: Praying For Those That Hurt Us

Short Prayer For Enemies

It can be hard to think kindly of our enemies, especially when they have wronged us in some way.

But as Christians, we are called to love and forgive, not matter what. When we find it difficult to make peace with our enemies, it can be comforting to turn to prayer.

The following is a short prayer that can be used when praying for our enemies:

Dear God,

I pray for my enemies today. Please grant them peace, understanding, and forgiveness. Help me to forgive them and set healthy boundaries. Bless them with a new understanding of You and Your love for them. Let me show them the same mercy that you have shown to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praying for our enemies can be a difficult and uncomfortable task, but it is an essential part of being a Christian.

Praying for our enemies can help us to open our hearts to love, mercy, and forgiveness, even when it is hard to do so.

As we read this love your enemies verse and prayer, may we all be blessed with the strength and courage to pray for our enemies.

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