How do you pray for someone you don’t want to?

Posted: April 17, 2012 in Bible, God, Jesus, Life, Thoughts, Thoughts on God

One of the ugliest things about human nature is our ability to form an instant dislike for someone for no particular reason. I’m sure there will be people who say they never do it, but most of us will admit that it’s easy to form a quick opinion of someone who doesn’t conform to our way of thinking and our standards. Most of the time it’s someone who doesn’t believe in the same God, someone we are judging because they don’t act like us, or even political reason, just to mention a few. So when we’re faced with this ugliness rearing it’s head, what do we do?

Luke 6:26-36 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

There’s not much to add to this passage when it comes to knowing how to react to others that you may not agree with, or like. the Bible is cut and dry on the subject. So the question now becomes, will you do it? I ask that you take some time each day to pray for someone you don’t agree with, or not a big fan of. Doing this will condition your heart to accept the Love of the Holy Spirit, which will in turn make it easier to become a more loving person. When we practice what we preach, our spiritual life becomes stronger and our ability to connect with God becomes that much easier, so begin your Spritual Strength Conditioning today by praying for someone that you don’t want to, I assure you that you will become stronger in the heart.

Comments
  1. faithfulnibbles says:

    There have been many times in my life, especially during times of conflict with some one, especially at work that I will fight praying for the other person — not that they will come to see my point of view — but just praying that God will work in their lives in whatever way necessary for them to have peace in the situation. Once I am able to pray for that person, then I am able to pray that God will help me see them through His eyes and also that he would give me His heart for the person and for the situation.

    Everytime God has brought peace and the individuals and I have ended up with a mutual respect for each other. It is amazing what God will do when we are willing to pray for our enemies.

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