Does God really want us to pray for our enemies? Jesus, in his famous Sermon on the Mount, admonishes us to pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. Do you know someone who seems to be doing things to spite you, or is speaking despitefully of you? One Bible dictionary defines despitefully as: with malice, or taking pleasure in the misfortune of another.
Another dictionary defines malice as: the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse, or out of a deep-seated meanness. We often feel malice and spite towards a lifelong enemy. In a court of law, it can mean, the evil intent on the part of a person who commits a wrongful act injurious to others.
Is there someone in your life right now who is rubbing you the wrong way, and he/she seems to be doing it on purpose? God's word says there is something we can do about it. We can follow the admonition Jesus gave, and pray for that person.
In Streams in the Desert 2, William Lane says it is impossible to harbour negative feelings, and thoughts about a person whom you are earnestly praying for. He says, its difficult to think and feel negative towards a person whom you are asking God to bless, prosper, protect, and supply for.
Let's do an experiment. Tonight, before going to bed, or today, while walking home, earnestly cry out to God in prayer for that poor soul who is giving your heart so much toil and heartache. If we follow the advice of God, and pray earnestly with a full heart, we should see some sort of results. If we continue in prayer for that person, God may even supernaturally remove the bad feelings and thoughts that we have been having. He may transform our heart and in turn transform the heart of the person who has been annoying us.
We have to do the obeying. We have to pray even though our emotions and thoughts disagree with the commandment of God to pray for our enemies. If we go ahead by faith, and follow His admonition, we may find we are able to rise above the present unpleasant situation. We may even find love and genuine compassion for that poor soul, whose presence has tormented us for so long.
Let's give it a try and pray for our enemies. I believe, if we pray, we will be surprised. Prayer moves the hand of God. Sincere desperate prayer can radically change any heart or situation. Pray. Instead of changing our enemy, we may be the one that is changed.
I am not talking about a little one day prayer. Overcoming negative thoughts and feelings about others through prayer may take more than just a few days. It may take weeks, or longer. It may be a constant and continual battle. However, I believe, if we in all earnestness and sincerity pray passionately for our enemy, we will experience results. It may not be a permanent victory. We may need to continue to baptise the person in prayer for the rest of our lives.
Similar to a grain of sand inside of the oyster's shell, we may have to continually secrete the balm of prayer over the sandy personality of our enemy. In the end, over time, however, a pearl will come forth. The pearl may be the deepening of our character, or the strengthening of our nerve, or the softening of our heart; but, a pearl we will have. The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
Originally published February 15, 2012. Edited February 17, 2026.
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