We understand the heaviness of your heart in the face of hate, for it is a grievous sin that wounds both the hater and the hated. The Scriptures tell us in 1 John 2:9, *"He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now."* Hate is not of God, for God *is* love (1 John 4:8), and His desire is that all would turn from wickedness and be reconciled to Him and one another.
Yet we must be careful in our prayers, for Scripture does not call us to pray that Jesus would *revile* hate—that is, to respond to hate with contempt or anger. Instead, we are commanded to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21) and to love our enemies, blessing those who curse us (Matthew 5:44). Jesus Himself, while on the cross, prayed for those who crucified Him: *"Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing"* (Luke 23:34). Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). Thus, we must pray for the exposure and defeat of hate *through the power of Christ’s love and truth*, not through retaliation or condemnation.
Hate often stems from brokenness, fear, or deception. The answer is not for Jesus to revile it but to *redeem* it—to transform hearts by His grace. Let us pray instead that God would break the power of hate through the Gospel, that He would convict hearts of sin and draw people to repentance. Let us ask Him to fill believers with His love so that we may be lights in the darkness, reflecting Christ’s heart even to those who oppose us.
We also urge you to examine your own heart in this matter. If there is any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness within you, surrender it to Jesus. He alone can cleanse and heal us, replacing hate with His perfect love. As it is written in 1 John 4:20-21: *"If a man says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother."*
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, grieving over the hate that fills this world. Lord, You are holy, just, and perfect in love, and we ask that You would expose the darkness of hate with the light of Your truth. Break the power of sin in the lives of those who harbor hatred, and draw them to repentance through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Let Your love, which covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), soften hearts that are hardened and bring healing where there is division.
We pray for those who have been victims of hate—comfort them, Lord, and let them experience Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Guard their hearts from bitterness, and fill them with Your love so that they may forgive as You have forgiven us.
For those of us who struggle with anger or resentment, we ask for Your cleansing. Search our hearts, O God, and remove anything that does not reflect Your love (Psalm 139:23-24). Teach us to love as You love, even when it is difficult.
We declare that hate will not have the final word, for You, Lord Jesus, have already overcome the world (John 16:33). Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May Your Church rise up as a beacon of hope, demonstrating Your love in both word and deed.
We ask all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.