The disciples requested of Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Among the things Jesus taught about prayer is what we should pray for. Let’s learn from the Lord.
Pray For Your Enemies
In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said,
"...love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."
The Lord expects us to treat our enemies with respect. To bless them (“…to speak well of … thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper…”, Strong’s), to do good to them (treat them well, to be honest and upright), and to pray for them (to bring their names before our Father in heaven). Such things are a lot easier said than done. The carnal mind tends toward vengeance and payback; but we are called to be imitators of God, who does good to those who are evil (Matthew 5:45-48).
How likely are we to bless and do good for those who mistreat us if we are not praying for them? Praying for our enemies is beneficial for both them and us. Perhaps, through our prayers and goodness to them, they might be encouraged to change. How wonderful if those who once did us harm were to change their way, to repent and turn to the Lord. We should pray for our enemies. But even if they do not repent, it will provide perspective and healing and closure for us. For our own peace of mind, for our spiritual walk, we need to pray for our enemies. We don’t need the wickedness of our enemies to become a constant distraction from our service to God.
Our focus in this series is for the Lord to teach us about prayer, so we can pray like Jesus. He prayed for His enemies. In Luke 23:34, Jesus spoke, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He did not curse them; He didn’t lash out at them with angry words. He went to the Father in prayer on their behalf. Earlier that night, Jesus did good for His enemy – restoring Malchus’ ear. We must learn to pray for those who seek to harm us or who have harmed us – not for their destruction, but for their salvation.
Pray For Evangelistic Work
We ought to be concerned with opportunities to spread God’s word. In Matthew 9:36-38, “…when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them…” And thus, He spoke to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” He urged His disciples to pray for the lost, but more than that, to pray for the work of teaching them God’s way. The world is still filled with weary and scattered souls. The harvest is still plentiful, but the laborers are still few. We need to pray for the work, and then get to work.
In Paul’s letter to the Colossian brethren, he urged them to pray. More specifically, he urged them to pray for him, and for his work in the gospel. Notice:
"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make manifest, as I ought to speak." (Colossians 4:2-4)
It is right to pray for open doors and opportunities. It is important to pray for clarity of speech as we or others speak to people about Christ. When we go into the community, do we pray beforehand? Do we ask God to bless us with opportunities, to open doors and hearts? The Lord will answer such prayers (Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12).
Pray for Preparedness
We do not know when the Lord will return. But regardless of whether he comes in our lifetime or not, we need to prepare ourselves. Eventually, He will come and all will stand before Him in judgment, the living and the dead. It is essential that we watch our conduct, lest we be ensnared by the devil. To help with this, we ought to be diligent students of the Bible. But Jesus also emphasized prayer – we ought to always pray. In Luke 21, we read:
...take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighted down with carousing, drunkenness, and care of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34-36).
It is important that we petition the Lord for His mercy and grace. If we have sinned, let us repent and seek forgiveness. Do we have eternity in our prayers? Do we pray in expectation of eternal life? Do we thank God for His eternal provision for us in Christ Jesus? His return is delayed (2 Peter 3:3-10), but He will return. Thus, we must pray and prepare ourselves.
There are certainly more things we ought to pray for, but these three are specifically stressed by the Lord in the days of His earthly ministry. May we pray for our enemies, for evangelistic effort, and concerning our preparedness before the Lord.
Edward M. Bounds is credited with saying:
"No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack."
Friends, let us be people of prayer.
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This article appeared in Meditate On These Things, 2024-09
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
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