“However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.” Matthew 5:44 (TPT)
We all know that Jesus’ way is totally counter to the way of the world. And often so different from our own. Jesus says bless those who curse you and pray for those who hate you. It is clear that we are to pray for those who are not like us, and/or may not like us. This current wicked government is so anti-God, anti-Church, that if you are a follower of Christ you are their enemy!
So, what does it look like to pray for those who are trying to ruin our nation? Simply put, the best way to pray for anybody (whether friend or foe) is to use the word of God and speak it over their lives! Here are a few examples…
- Ask God to make His name holy in their lives (Matthew 5:9)
- Ask God for His Kingdom come and will be done in them (Matthew 5:10)
- Ask God to allow them to taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 27:13, Psalm 34:8)
- Ask God to grant them Godly wisdom and the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10, Hebrews 10:31)
- Ask God to give them revelation of the Lord (Ephesians 1:18-21)
- Ask God to expose and convict them of sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:9)
- Ask God for their salvation, that they would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 2 Corinthians 6:2)
- Ask God to open their eyes so they can see and understand the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3)
- Ask God to grant them the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Psalm 57:5, Habakkuk 2:14)
- Ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon them (Acts 10:44, Ephesians 5:18)
- Ask God to expose and bind up the demonic that is operating in and around their lives (Mark 5:6-8)
- Ask God to lead them to a place of repentance (1 John 1:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Acts 2:38, 17:30)
- Ask God for a grace over them to humble themselves in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6)
Our words have power to bless and curse. Let your words bring life to those around you, especially the ones who don’t like you. Instead of being offended by their hatred of you (and your faith) pray for them. And I am not saying to ask God to send fire from heaven top consume them like James and John did, and were rebuked by Jesus (Luke 9:54). Instead present them to God, crying out for His blessing upon them!
