In your childhood, you may have heard a saying goes like “love your enemies.” But at some point, you may be taught that it is your right to fight enemies who have hurt you so they won’t belittle you again.
Whether you are Christian or not, the real question here is, which action should you follow?
You live in a world of duality where two sides of the coin always exist. So, hate will always be present as much as love exists.
But, is it easy to love than to hate? The answer is NO.
It may seem easy to say you a love a person when everything is okay and life is good. But, it’s not easy to love when things around gets complicated, full of frustrations in life and if you were hurt.
It is easy to love people for their good, but it comes challenging when it is at their worst.
When a person hurts you, anger is instantly manifested at that moment. Hate is an emotion stems from fear, envy, pain, jealousy, guilt or failure.
It has a strong relationship with yourself, and your personal story. Certain adversity and challenges in life can trigger emotions that can lead to hate—whether in yourself or hate in others.
Most of the time, you unconsciously use projection as a way to cope up difficult emotions and undesirable feelings. You project your hate for yourself onto others because it triggers you.
Whatever form of hate that is, you should not let this emotion to bind up your soul. Instead, focus on living your life using Christ as an example.
The Lord Jesus Christ lived in a way of selflessly loving everyone– may it be a friend or enemies. He is the one to teach to love your enemies no matter what they did to you.
You can extend your love through praying for your enemies.
Why should you pray for your enemies?
You are often taught to resist and fight enemies that harm you. But were you ever taught to love them instead?
It is difficult to love people you hate or hates you. When you think about everything they did to you, your chest hurts.
You are clouded by anger, hate, resentment, and other certain emotions. So, it’s difficult to think ” to love your enemies positively.”
But keep in mind that these people desperately need the Lord as much as you need him. If you wanted to live and Christ-like life, then you must take the Lord as your example.
You are taught to love your enemies mentioned in the gospel of Matthew 5: 43-48.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”
The Lord is not only asking you to do good things for your enemies. But he would also love if you truly desire that something good will happen to them.
Loving your enemies is a profound form of love, a Christ-like love. That even a person hurt you or do undesirable things to you, genuinely pray for their success.
Ought to pray for your enemies for their salvation and to know God. Pray for their eternal happiness and for grace and mercy to be bestowed to them.
It may seem hard, but this is the most selfless way you could do for others.
Lord God, you know how much I’ve been enduring the negativity this person is bringing to my life
Sometimes, I feel like walking away from the situation but your words always remind me to honor your love in this kind of situation
This situation is really pushing me to the edge
It is easy to hate and be angry to someone
So, help me Lord to contain my emotions and to forgive this person
I’m asking for strength to love even it is difficult and hard to do
Help me to stretch my patience, understanding and kindness
Use me to expand love over those people who are angry, full of hatred and frustrations in life
Hold me tight in your arms when this person tries to shake my faith to the core
Soften my heart even more at times I am treated with harshness and rudeness
Enlighten me every single moment and help me to love in the same manner that you do
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Allow me to lead a life by the guidance of your Spirit and not by emotions
Keep me near to you Lord, but most importantly, pour your love into them. Amen
Prayer to Cancel Evil Plan of the Enemy
It is natural that you want to avoid those people who want to harm you in any way they know. But if you want to live in God’s way, then you should pray for them.
It is important to respond in prayers always than to react to hate. You are not only doing this in service of the Lord, but this also helps your peace of mind.
Make peace with yourself. Stop trying to find fault in others and in yourself.
Your goal is to always transcend hate and to lift this person to God with full of good intention. Pray for your enemies to receive the love of God even if they have sinned many times.
Keep in mind that being in a state of hate and anger, you are staying away from your identity in Christ. You are taught to love regardless of what people do to you and what they can do for you.
Are you still going to commit and act in love when people have done so much to you to hurt you? Remember, when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, this is what he said:
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there…, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” (Luke 23: 32-35)
The hate against Jesus brought him into crucifixion to the cross. But instead of begging, resisting and fighting the evil plans for him, he responded in compassion.
He spoke loving and compassionate for the sake of the same people who hurt him and betrayed him. Set Jesus Christ as an example of handling this situation and responding with the same heart as he has.
Know that having enemies in life is a challenge for you whether you are still going to stay loving people or it brings out hostility in you. Commit and abide in the commandments of the Lord.
Take this opportunity as a sign of growth.
You are pushed to go beyond your limits. Every day is a learning experience of loving people more.
When you know, there’s an evil that surrounds these people, pushing them to do wicked things, surrender it to the Lord, and he will take it there.
Once you surrender, pray for their forgiveness and pray for your understanding.
Lord God, I pray that you illuminate light in the hearts of hateful and angry people
They are broken, they are hurt and they deserve the touch of your love that will cover all their sins
I pray that you restrain evil that pushes these people to do wicked things to others
Cancel the plans of evil and prevent them to further take control of the hearts and minds of people
Lord, I pray that you keep me strong and powerful in my faith
That I still continue and remain obedient to your commandments
Help me to truly commit to love and give me a strong reason to not hate
Bring understanding and light in our situation
I pray that you bring healing in the hearts of people who desire bad things for me
Mend their wounds where the evil tries to sneak in and shake the core of their faith in you
They may have sinned, Oh Lord, but forgive them because they have grown not knowing your teachings
Show them mercy for they are not aware of what they are doing
Pardon them for they are hurt too
Bring awareness and enlightenment to their hearts and mind
Fuel their faith and allow them to se their truth through you
Allow them to feel your love that will transform their life and change their heart
I pray all this in your powerful name. Amen!
Specific Prayer to Remove Enemies From your Life
If you are doing your part but the situation doesn’t seem to look better and the burdens stars growing. It is time for you to let it go and let God take all the rest.
You are not in control of the situation, and you’re not trying to be. You can still resort to prayer the both of you.
However, you may not want to only pray to remove someone from your life. Instead, you can pray that God may send someone that will instill love and understanding in that person’s life.
Their ears are closed and they are clouded by their emotions. It’s time for someone to voice love, forgiveness and truth to them.
Dear God, Almighty Father, I surrender to you this person who’s trying to indulge me in their own emotions
I know to myself that I did my best to love them, but they still resist it
There are times that I wanted to send them away from me so I could live peacefully
The burden in getting heavy and I may grow out weary
If this is your will for me, then give me strength to endure and continue to show compassion
If not, then I pray Lord that you send someone who knows you and will speak your truth
Surround them with people that will instill love and understanding to their life
Soften their hearts and open their mind to receive your love and truth
Allow them to walk near to you and grow in your light and mercy
I pray all the best and may this send hope and healing to those who are hurt and wounded. Amen