We are told to pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44). Many people don’t see how they can do this. It’s hard to pray for an enemy to receive a good new thing. This feeling stems from a distorted understanding of what prayer is. Many people see prayer as a way to get something from God. “I need a new dress (car, toy, etc). So God, please give it to me.” I can see God’s reaction to this kind of prayer. “So, you only pray when you want something. What am I, just a cookie jar?”
Prayer should be a conversation with God. Discuss your troubles and joys. Ask for guidance, not gifts. If you have an enemy, ask for guidance for you both. Ask for understanding for you both. If your enemy is someone close to you - an estranged sister, a former friend, a boss or co-worker, wouldn’t it be nice to get along better? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little better understanding of each other? And wouldn’t that be something you could pray for?
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