God help me love my enemies but its hard
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We hear your cry for help, dear brother or sister in Christ, and we stand with you before the throne of grace, lifting your burden to the Lord. Loving our enemies is indeed one of the most challenging commands Jesus gave us, yet it is also one of the most powerful testimonies of His transforming love at work within us. You are not alone in this struggle, even the disciples wrestled with this truth, and Jesus Himself modeled it perfectly on the cross when He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34 WEB).
First, let us address the foundation of this command. Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-45 (WEB), "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven." This is not a suggestion, it is a calling for those who bear the name of Christ. Loving our enemies is not about feelings; it is about obedience, surrender, and allowing God to soften our hearts. The natural man cannot do this, but through Christ, we can.
We must also rebuke any bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness that may be hardening your heart. Hebrews 12:15 (WEB) warns us, "Looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it." Unforgiveness is a poison that only harms the one who holds onto it. If there is someone specific who has wronged you, we encourage you to release them to God in prayer. Forgiveness does not mean what they did was right, it means you are choosing to trust God to be your defender and healer.
Now, let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging that without You, we cannot love as You have commanded. Lord, we lift up our brother/sister to You, asking that You would soften their heart and fill them with Your supernatural love. Father, Your Word says in Romans 5:5 (WEB) that "the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." We ask that You would pour out Your love afresh in their life, that they may see their enemies through Your eyes, broken, lost, and in need of Your grace, just as we once were.
Lord, heal the wounds that have made it difficult to love. Where there is pain, bring Your comfort. Where there is anger, bring Your peace. Where there is bitterness, bring Your forgiveness. Teach them to pray for those who have hurt them, as You commanded in Luke 6:28 (WEB): "Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you." Give them the strength to bless and not curse, to do good and not evil, and to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21 WEB).
Father, we also ask that You would guard their heart against the lies of the enemy, who would seek to convince them that loving their enemies is impossible or unnecessary. Remind them that You did not call them to do this in their own strength, but in the power of Your Holy Spirit. As they surrender to You, fill them with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 WEB).
Lord, we thank You that You are a God who specializes in the impossible. You turned Saul, a persecutor of the Church, into Paul, a vessel of Your love and grace. You can do the same in our lives. Help our brother/sister to walk in obedience, trusting that Your ways are higher than ours and that Your love never fails.
We pray all of this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, the One who loved us while we were yet sinners and died for us (Romans 5:8 WEB). It is only through His name that we have access to You, Father, and it is only by His blood that we are forgiven and empowered to live as He commands. May His name be glorified in this situation, and may our brother/sister grow in Christlikeness as they seek to love their enemies. Amen.
Dear one, we want to encourage you to take practical steps in this journey. Begin by praying for your enemies daily, not just a quick prayer, but a sincere cry for God to bless them and draw them to Himself. Ask God to reveal any unforgiveness in your heart and to help you release it. Meditate on Scriptures that speak of God’s love and forgiveness, such as Ephesians 4:31-32 (WEB): "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you."
Remember, loving your enemies is not a one-time act but a daily choice to walk in obedience. You may not feel love for them, but you can choose to act in love, trusting that God will honor your obedience and transform your heart in the process. As you step out in faith, God will meet you and empower you to do what seems impossible.
Lastly, if you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, we urge you to do so today. It is only through a personal relationship with Him that you can experience the power to love as He loves. Romans 10:9 (WEB) says, "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." If you have not made this decision, we encourage you to pray and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and give you a new heart, a heart capable of loving even your enemies.
First, let us address the foundation of this command. Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-45 (WEB), "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven." This is not a suggestion, it is a calling for those who bear the name of Christ. Loving our enemies is not about feelings; it is about obedience, surrender, and allowing God to soften our hearts. The natural man cannot do this, but through Christ, we can.
We must also rebuke any bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness that may be hardening your heart. Hebrews 12:15 (WEB) warns us, "Looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it." Unforgiveness is a poison that only harms the one who holds onto it. If there is someone specific who has wronged you, we encourage you to release them to God in prayer. Forgiveness does not mean what they did was right, it means you are choosing to trust God to be your defender and healer.
Now, let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble and contrite hearts, acknowledging that without You, we cannot love as You have commanded. Lord, we lift up our brother/sister to You, asking that You would soften their heart and fill them with Your supernatural love. Father, Your Word says in Romans 5:5 (WEB) that "the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." We ask that You would pour out Your love afresh in their life, that they may see their enemies through Your eyes, broken, lost, and in need of Your grace, just as we once were.
Lord, heal the wounds that have made it difficult to love. Where there is pain, bring Your comfort. Where there is anger, bring Your peace. Where there is bitterness, bring Your forgiveness. Teach them to pray for those who have hurt them, as You commanded in Luke 6:28 (WEB): "Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you." Give them the strength to bless and not curse, to do good and not evil, and to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21 WEB).
Father, we also ask that You would guard their heart against the lies of the enemy, who would seek to convince them that loving their enemies is impossible or unnecessary. Remind them that You did not call them to do this in their own strength, but in the power of Your Holy Spirit. As they surrender to You, fill them with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 WEB).
Lord, we thank You that You are a God who specializes in the impossible. You turned Saul, a persecutor of the Church, into Paul, a vessel of Your love and grace. You can do the same in our lives. Help our brother/sister to walk in obedience, trusting that Your ways are higher than ours and that Your love never fails.
We pray all of this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, the One who loved us while we were yet sinners and died for us (Romans 5:8 WEB). It is only through His name that we have access to You, Father, and it is only by His blood that we are forgiven and empowered to live as He commands. May His name be glorified in this situation, and may our brother/sister grow in Christlikeness as they seek to love their enemies. Amen.
Dear one, we want to encourage you to take practical steps in this journey. Begin by praying for your enemies daily, not just a quick prayer, but a sincere cry for God to bless them and draw them to Himself. Ask God to reveal any unforgiveness in your heart and to help you release it. Meditate on Scriptures that speak of God’s love and forgiveness, such as Ephesians 4:31-32 (WEB): "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you."
Remember, loving your enemies is not a one-time act but a daily choice to walk in obedience. You may not feel love for them, but you can choose to act in love, trusting that God will honor your obedience and transform your heart in the process. As you step out in faith, God will meet you and empower you to do what seems impossible.
Lastly, if you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, we urge you to do so today. It is only through a personal relationship with Him that you can experience the power to love as He loves. Romans 10:9 (WEB) says, "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." If you have not made this decision, we encourage you to pray and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and give you a new heart, a heart capable of loving even your enemies.
We hear you, and we know how heavy that call can feel when your heart is still sore. Wanting to love and bless someone who has hurt you is one of the hardest places to stand, and the fact that you are crying out about it tells us something good is already stirring.
What we have learned is that love like this rarely starts as a warm feeling. It often begins as a quiet, stubborn decision, a choice to treat the person as someone God values, even when your emotions have not caught up. That does not mean pretending the wrong never happened; it means bringing your honest ache to God and then, day by day, taking one small step of blessing. A simple prayer over your coffee: “Lord, do good in their life today.” Not blessing their sin, but releasing them into God’s care. Over time, those small acts of will can soften something deep inside us that we could never fix by ourselves.
So maybe you could start there, just one whispered blessing each morning. Let God tend to the feelings in His own time. Your desire to honor Him in this struggle is itself a form of worship.
Jesus, we lift up this friend who is fighting to love the way You love. Their raw honesty is precious to You. Quietly still the resentment, bring healing to the wounded places, and give daily courage to bless even when it costs. Gently reshape their heart until it beats more like Yours. In Your name, amen.
What we have learned is that love like this rarely starts as a warm feeling. It often begins as a quiet, stubborn decision, a choice to treat the person as someone God values, even when your emotions have not caught up. That does not mean pretending the wrong never happened; it means bringing your honest ache to God and then, day by day, taking one small step of blessing. A simple prayer over your coffee: “Lord, do good in their life today.” Not blessing their sin, but releasing them into God’s care. Over time, those small acts of will can soften something deep inside us that we could never fix by ourselves.
So maybe you could start there, just one whispered blessing each morning. Let God tend to the feelings in His own time. Your desire to honor Him in this struggle is itself a form of worship.
Jesus, we lift up this friend who is fighting to love the way You love. Their raw honesty is precious to You. Quietly still the resentment, bring healing to the wounded places, and give daily courage to bless even when it costs. Gently reshape their heart until it beats more like Yours. In Your name, amen.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
It is a grievous token of hardness of heart when we can live contentedly without the present enjoyment of the Savior's face, yet you cry out against this very thing. That you feel the stone within, and mourn its presence, is itself a sign that the Great Physician has not left you to yourself. A heart utterly hardened feels no pang at its own state, but you are pricked, and that pricking is painful. I would to God that all such pains were multiplied, for to be wounded in the heart is the prelude to Divine healing. Nothing wounds like the Cross of Christ, and nothing heals like it. Look there, to that fountain filled with blood; let the dying love of Jesus pierce you anew, for that same love, shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, melts the adamant and makes it flesh.
Your own strivings cannot soften what sin has calcified. The Lord does not attempt the repairing of the old heart; He takes away the stony heart and gives a heart of flesh. This is sovereign surgery, a new creation. Go, then, with your divided and paining heart, not to the lancet of your own resolves, but to Him who was sent to heal the brokenhearted. Tell Him, “My Master, heal these wounds for me. If Thou wilt save me, I will know no other love.” He can rivet the shattered fragments and make the heart whole in its devotion. As you bathe in that fountain, the love of God will constrain you, and you will begin to bless even those who curse you, for the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart laughs at impossibilities. May He do this swift work in you, for His own glory.
Your own strivings cannot soften what sin has calcified. The Lord does not attempt the repairing of the old heart; He takes away the stony heart and gives a heart of flesh. This is sovereign surgery, a new creation. Go, then, with your divided and paining heart, not to the lancet of your own resolves, but to Him who was sent to heal the brokenhearted. Tell Him, “My Master, heal these wounds for me. If Thou wilt save me, I will know no other love.” He can rivet the shattered fragments and make the heart whole in its devotion. As you bathe in that fountain, the love of God will constrain you, and you will begin to bless even those who curse you, for the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart laughs at impossibilities. May He do this swift work in you, for His own glory.
The Encourager
The Encourager
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.
God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Chrysostom
Beloved of All
The command of the Lord is not easy: to love those who have wronged you, to bless those who curse. The heart resists; it clings to its wounds. Yet you have already begun the good fight, for you cry out for help. This very groaning is a prayer that rises to heaven, even if no sound is heard. For God listens not to the noise of the lips, but to the cry of the heart. Moses prayed in silence, and God said, "Why do you cry to Me?" So too, continue to pour out your soul before Him, and He will send His grace.
What you seek is a softened heart, and that is holiness. For out of the heart come all evil thoughts: resentment, anger, the memory of injuries. To be cleansed of these is purity. Do not think you can do this on your own. Entreat the Lord without ceasing, even as you walk or work, singing in your heart to God. Let your inward song be a plea for love.
Remember, this command is not for the benefit of your enemies alone; it is for your own soul. When Christ says, "Love your enemies, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven," He shows that such love makes you like God, who sends sun and rain on both the just and unjust. This is the path to healing. For when you bless instead of curse, you release the poison within and are set free.
It is hard, yes. But consider the reward. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, what God has prepared for those who love Him in this way. If we must endure ten thousand deaths for the sake of such promises, shall we not endure the death of our pride and our bitterness? The time of struggle is short; the crown is eternal. Do not be discouraged by the length of the battle; it is the amendment of the soul that God desires, and the very desire you have is a sign of His work.
Take courage. You are not far from victory, or you would not mourn the hardness of your heart. Bring to God even the tears of frustration: they are a living prayer. And as you pray, begin to do small acts of blessing: a silent prayer for their well-being, a refusal to speak evil of them. In this way, the heart is softened by grace. The Lord Himself will perfect what you lack, for He who gave the command will also supply the strength.
What you seek is a softened heart, and that is holiness. For out of the heart come all evil thoughts: resentment, anger, the memory of injuries. To be cleansed of these is purity. Do not think you can do this on your own. Entreat the Lord without ceasing, even as you walk or work, singing in your heart to God. Let your inward song be a plea for love.
Remember, this command is not for the benefit of your enemies alone; it is for your own soul. When Christ says, "Love your enemies, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven," He shows that such love makes you like God, who sends sun and rain on both the just and unjust. This is the path to healing. For when you bless instead of curse, you release the poison within and are set free.
It is hard, yes. But consider the reward. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, what God has prepared for those who love Him in this way. If we must endure ten thousand deaths for the sake of such promises, shall we not endure the death of our pride and our bitterness? The time of struggle is short; the crown is eternal. Do not be discouraged by the length of the battle; it is the amendment of the soul that God desires, and the very desire you have is a sign of His work.
Take courage. You are not far from victory, or you would not mourn the hardness of your heart. Bring to God even the tears of frustration: they are a living prayer. And as you pray, begin to do small acts of blessing: a silent prayer for their well-being, a refusal to speak evil of them. In this way, the heart is softened by grace. The Lord Himself will perfect what you lack, for He who gave the command will also supply the strength.
Silas
Beloved of All
What you are describing is the very center of the Christian life, and your honesty here is precious. The cry of your heart, "soften my heart", is exactly where this work begins. You have discovered what every believer must face: the command to love an enemy is utterly impossible in our own strength. The flesh wants to recoil, to protect, to stay in that narrow, cramped place of self-preservation. But the Spirit calls us into something wide and free.
The love Jesus commands is not a feeling you can manufacture. It is a divine love, the kind that only originates in the heart of God Himself. You cannot simply decide to love someone who has wounded you, any more than you can heal your own broken bone. The reason the command feels so hard is that it is hard, it requires a death. So do not waste your energy trying to mesmerize yourself into thinking the person is not so bad or pretending the wound is not real. Bring the impossibility directly to the Lord.
Here is the turning point: we love because He first loved us. The power to love an enemy is not found by staring at the enemy. It is found by receiving, in a deep and personal way, the love God has for you. His love was demonstrated while you were still His enemy. Christ did not wait for your heart to soften. While sin still made you opposed to Him, He poured Himself out for you. That truth, when the Holy Spirit makes it real, sparks a responsive love. A heart that sits and overflows with the consciousness of His mercy will find new instincts beginning to form.
When your heart condemns you, when you feel the hatred rising, remember that God is greater than your heart. He knows all things. He knows you want to obey, and He knows the fracture feels too deep. That is why you can pray with raw honesty: "Lord, I cannot love this person. The well is dry. Any love that moves in their direction is going to have to come entirely from You. I am willing. Take away the hardness. Love them through me, not because they deserve it, but because You are love and You live in me."
This is not a call to pretend the offense did not happen or to affirm what God calls sin. It is a call to release the debt so your own heart can be enlarged. A narrow heart is a suffering heart, pressed in on every side. As you let God pour His love in, that pressure is released. The hurt may not vanish overnight, but the hatred will be washed out by a far more powerful flame, a love that many waters cannot quench. Do not be discouraged that you find it hard. The struggle itself proves the Spirit is at work, drawing you past a shallow, worldly affection and into the depths of His own life.
The love Jesus commands is not a feeling you can manufacture. It is a divine love, the kind that only originates in the heart of God Himself. You cannot simply decide to love someone who has wounded you, any more than you can heal your own broken bone. The reason the command feels so hard is that it is hard, it requires a death. So do not waste your energy trying to mesmerize yourself into thinking the person is not so bad or pretending the wound is not real. Bring the impossibility directly to the Lord.
Here is the turning point: we love because He first loved us. The power to love an enemy is not found by staring at the enemy. It is found by receiving, in a deep and personal way, the love God has for you. His love was demonstrated while you were still His enemy. Christ did not wait for your heart to soften. While sin still made you opposed to Him, He poured Himself out for you. That truth, when the Holy Spirit makes it real, sparks a responsive love. A heart that sits and overflows with the consciousness of His mercy will find new instincts beginning to form.
When your heart condemns you, when you feel the hatred rising, remember that God is greater than your heart. He knows all things. He knows you want to obey, and He knows the fracture feels too deep. That is why you can pray with raw honesty: "Lord, I cannot love this person. The well is dry. Any love that moves in their direction is going to have to come entirely from You. I am willing. Take away the hardness. Love them through me, not because they deserve it, but because You are love and You live in me."
This is not a call to pretend the offense did not happen or to affirm what God calls sin. It is a call to release the debt so your own heart can be enlarged. A narrow heart is a suffering heart, pressed in on every side. As you let God pour His love in, that pressure is released. The hurt may not vanish overnight, but the hatred will be washed out by a far more powerful flame, a love that many waters cannot quench. Do not be discouraged that you find it hard. The struggle itself proves the Spirit is at work, drawing you past a shallow, worldly affection and into the depths of His own life.
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
Praying for this request in Jesus Name.
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