Praying For Your Enemies

Definition: Forgiveness: to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong) : to stop blaming (someone), 2: to stop feeling anger about (something) : to forgive someone for (something wrong), 3: to stop requiring payment of (money that is owed). A synonym for forgiveness is pardon.

Praying for your enemies is a difficult task for your mind and spirit (heart) to come into agreement. Many of us have had people lie on our names or even do us terribly wrong. It may have been your mother, father , siblings, neighbor, close friend, significant other, etc. To be honest my heart goes out to the ones who actually believe the lies, just saying. Jesus was even lied on, not even his own brother believed he was The Son Of God. (Scripture John 9:3-5  His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.)

Let me tell you a small story. There was a little girl who grew up in a very low poverty community. she had several other siblings and they shared a mother who was addicted to drugs and many things of her flesh, which over time caused her to abandon her children. The children loved their mother deeply and accepted her no matter her wrongful and neglectful ways towards them. Their mother did teach them to always stick together no matter what. The young girl being the only girl of the siblings, had to take on the mother role in so many ways, due to the neglectful actions of their mother. What a burden on the child this was, but she was ok with it as long as all of them were together as a family, even though mom vaguely was present. Of course over time, due to the absence of an adult, its only but so much order children can keep in a home. So consequences came about and the young girl was taken from her home and separated from her siblings.

The young girl was deeply wounded and scarred by what her mother’s selfish actions placed her and her family in. She felt broken, resentment towards her mother, she was angry and even a piece of her felt like she let her mother down because her mother left her in charge to be the woman of the house. She was confused and unforgiving to her mother for many years. Bitterness and negativity was her foundation to keep any one else from hurting her. She placed in her frontal lobe that negative has to happen because it was all she knew and understood. She looked forward to it, and had no remorse. She felt she can challenge any kind of pain and hurt because nothing else can hurt more than some one’s own mother turning their back to their children and abandoning them.

As years went on the girl grew older and her pain grew with her. Through out those years she did maintain a relationship with her mom but still had resentment toward her. She had not yet truly forgave her mom, nor did she have any real closure to why her and her siblings were hurt so bad. As time went on, she began a journey to except Jesus in her life and to have a relationship with God. As she prayed for her heart to be healed and prayed for her family. She prayed for the hurt that was on her and her siblings hearts regarding their mother. Over time trusting in God, God gave the young girl a revelation(understanding) and answer to her question that was never answered by her mom. Why did my mother abandon us? God said to her, you must forgive your mother because she was not able to properly take care of herself, so how could she possibly take care of you and your siblings. She never looked at it from that perspective.

You see her mom was hurting and in pain and she subconsciously knew she was wrong for how she was treating herself and her children. Though in her conscious she didn’t realize she couldn’t take care of herself, thus for not being able to take care of her children. Well, Of course the girl was then able to freely forgive and forget the hurt and pain her mother subjected to her. she then embarked on her healing journey, letting God mend her broken heart. Now having the greatest relationship that her and her mother could ever have. Mother is also now drug free!

Many say well I forgive but I’m not going to forget. Well, that’s not what the word of God states. (Scripture: Matthew 16:14-15  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.) Yet we want God to forgive us of the things we continuously do to hurt him. Yet he does forgive us and forget our sins. I can not imagine Him saying I forgive you, but I can’t get off my mind what you did to me. God(Jehovah) forgave us and in order for him to forget our sins, he sent Jesus! (Scripture: Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.)

To forgive your enemies will take much courage and humility. Many will be strong in the Lord concerning this subject, but many will be in disobedience with God and choose not to walk in forgiveness. Just think about God’s mercy that is on you, will you not have mercy on your enemy. (Scripture: Lamentations: 3:22-23 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.) Your positive and forgiving prayers and/or actions towards your enemy(enemies) may be that one prayer and/or deed to allow your enemy to be rescued by God’s spirit and be saved. There is power in forgiveness.

Pray and ask God to start the process of healing your broken heart as you embark on your journey of forgiveness towards your enemies. Ask him for the strength by His spirit to train you to walk in longsuffering as He does for us. Making it easy for us to dismiss hatred, hurt and pain because those things are not of Him(God). If you don’t know what or how to strategically pray, then pray the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:9-13.

By Danielle Mims

Pray, Meditate and Initiate: Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Lord Jesus,

I am a Sinner. Come into my heart. I believe you are the son of God and that he raised you from the dead. I believe you are Alive today. Satan I am no longer your friend, Nor am I in agreement with you. I renounce you and your wicked ways now. Lord Jesus Forgive me for my sins, known and unknown. Please come into my life and change me now. Bless me with the Holy Ghost that I may be lead in the path of righteousness. In Jesus! name I pray, Amen!

The Angels are Rejoicing in Heaven and so am I.  Continue to meditate on Gods word daily rather it be a proverb and/or Psalm, as well as gospels John, Matthew, Mark and Luke, etc.