Pray for Your Enemies

Prayer is the intimate, private, and often internal dialogue between self and the Creator. We customarily pray for self, our needs, wants and for those we love. What of praying for those we don’t love? Praying for our enemies can feel like self betrayal. That is, praying for those who have hurt us, criticized us, betrayed us or who have deliberately caused us pain. To pray for those who have erred against us (e.g., supposed family, former friends or backstabbing coworkers) can feel counter-intuitive. How can one possibly pray for their enemies? It goes against all rational thinking or sound judgment. Why would anyone in their right mind petition for the betterment of a rival?

The answer is as simple as this- you are aware and they are not. Therefore, pray that they become aware. Pray that they come to their senses. Pray that they come to realize all of their actions, i.e.; the fit’s of rage, the jealousy, the yelling, the demeaning, the sarcasm, the condescending speech, the vulgarity, the unfaithfulness and compulsive lying. Pray. Pray for their awareness. When you do, you’ll quickly, if not immediately, find this to be one of the most challenging, if not, almost impossible things you’ll ever do. Indeed, it’s easier said than done. It may even put your faith to the test. Just mentioning their very name in your prayer will seem foreign and out of place.

Try this for 30 days. When you do, you will realize you are no better than them. There is no “you and them”. Instead, it is all of us. We are all fearful. We are all searching. We all seek answers. When you discover that your enemies are human and they carry the same fears and worries in life as you do, you’ll realize they are no different than you. The only difference that remains is that you are aware and they are not. So, pray for their eyes to be opened.

At the end of the 30 days, if there is no change - look closer. You are free from hate and strife. Your grudges will no longer matter. Acknowledging that the awareness lies within you and that is what matters most. You are no longer blind as to why others react a certain way or choose to live their lives a certain way. You now see and understand that most often they are reacting out of fear. So, if there is someone in your life that you are not speaking with - a relative, estranged friend, etc, pray for them.

What if you are your own worst enemy? Then what do you do? Pray. Pray for your own awareness. Pray for your eyes to be opened. Pray that you come to your senses. Pray.

Priscilla Selgas is a Licensed Massage Therapist in Florida. Her work includes back stage care at some of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania’s top rock venues and arenas providing therapeutic bodywork for bands and musicians. She is a Freelance Writer and currently practices in Miami. Connect at pennedbyPriscilla@gmail.com.