The benefits of prayer can’t be exhausted. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Some people claim it’s easier said than done. How are you supposed to pray for someone who has hurt you badly and done awful things? They ask. Praying for your enemies may seem a little daunting at first, but it’s achievable by children of God. BETTY AMUKPO converses with some children on why we should pray for our enemies.
‘We must forgive and bless each other’
It is natural for us to encounter others we may not get along with, and of those we may consider to be our “enemies.” (Luke 6:27-30). It is important for us however, to remember that they are just humans too (Proverbs 24:17). We must forgive and bless each other, and turn to God to strengthen our will against Satan. Exodus 23:22 says, “If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. So, we should pray for our enemies, and leave condemnation for God to judge.
• Stephen Victory
‘Praying for our enemies helps us to let go of anger, bitterness, and resentment’
There are many reasons I believe that we should pray for our enemies. First, praying for our enemies can help us to develop compassion and understanding. It can also help us to let go of anger, bitterness, and resentment. Additionally, prayer can help us to find peace and forgiveness. Finally, it can even help us to heal from any hurt or harm caused by our enemies. Ultimately, praying for our enemies can bring about positive change in both ourselves and the world around us. The Bible has a lot to say about this topic. One of the most famous passages is found in Matthew 5:44, where Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Another great verse is Romans 12:14, which says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” And in Luke 6:27, Jesus says, “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” So, according to the Bible, there are many reasons why we should pray for our enemies.
• Blossom Akalezi
‘True children of God, love their enemies and pray for them’
Jesus says if we are going to behave like true children of God, we should love our enemies and pray for them (Matt 5:44-48). We see in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, that forgiving others is something that the Lord requires of us. And as we pray for our enemies, we forgive them, our hearts become softened, as we let go of our agenda of retaliation, we become more like Jesus.
• Chukwuebuka Okolo
‘Praying for our enemies shows our commitment to God’s command’
Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies because He wants all souls saved on the last day and praying for them shows our commitment to His command. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus says “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you.” Most importantly, praying for them means loving them.
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘Always pray for your enemy, no matter the condition or situation that they may have put you’
An enemy is a person who hates, acts or speaks against somebody or something. In my own understanding, an enemy is a person who you hate or who hates you, or a person who backbites you. An enemy might be your friend, but you do not know, so be careful. Why should we pray for our enemies?
• So, God can touch their hearts.
• So, to be your friend again if they were once your friend.
• So, to love you and you love them because, the Bible says in” Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” • So, God can turn them over, a new leaf.
• So, they can also pray for you as in Luke 6:27-28.
• So, they may repent and give their life to Christ. As John 15 :17, says “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner.”
Always pray for your enemy, no matter the condition or situation that they may have put you, because they might be the ones to save you, so pray for them. For the Bible says, pray in and out of season.
• Anyasor Chibuike
‘Praying for our enemies is about loving them’
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you (Luke 6:27-28). Jesus wants all souls to be saved, that is why we are encouraged to pray for our enemies. Ephesians 4:32 says, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ has forgiven us. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute you or accuse you falsely. Matthew 5:43-45 states, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven).
• Anita Chima
‘We are called to love and forgive our enemies’
It helps us to love our enemies by reminding us that our enemies are really guilty and that this must not stop our love and mercy, and forgiveness. Most of all, it helps us because we know that Jesus was suffering for us and praying for us. We are called to love and forgive our enemies because we have been loved and forgiven when we were the enemies of God (Luke 6:36).
• Adigwe Chisom
‘Praying for our enemies can lead to reconciliation and healing’
Praying for our enemies aligns with Jesus’ teachings in the Bible. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This demonstrates the importance of showing love and compassion, even to those who may oppose us. Additionally, praying for our enemies can lead to reconciliation and healing, fostering a spirit of forgiveness and peace as stated in Romans 12:20- 21: On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
• Arnold Akalezi
‘We should pray for our enemies’
We should pray for our enemies because it helps us to know that Jesus suffered for us, and is praying for us. If Jesus could forgive us our sins, then who are we not to forgive, or pray for our enemies? Luke 6: 27-28 says “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
• Nnadikwe Kelechi
‘The more we pray for our enemies, the more they feel guilty’
We should pray for our enemies because the more we pray for them, they will be fed up and begin to have a guilty conscience. Romans 12:20 points out, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
• Okoroafor Stephanie