Prayers Against Enemies

When someone is working against you, ask God to rise up and fight for you.

Father, You see everyone who is working against me. I’m done pretending this doesn’t hurt. Rise up and fight for me. Crush their plans before they take root. Expose every lie they’ve told. Turn back everything they’ve planned against me, and let it fall on their own heads. Break their power over my life, my home, and my work. I won’t pay them back, because You will. Show them, and show me, that no one who stands against Your people wins. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Say it out loud: you belong to God, and the enemy has no claim on you.

Lord, I’m not afraid of the enemy anymore, because You have already won. Every lie the enemy has whispered to me, I reject. Every door I opened, I close. Every plan against my family, my mind, and my future, I ask You to destroy. Tear down every stronghold, and drive out whatever doesn’t belong in my home. Let the enemy run, because I belong to You. Clothe me in Your armor, and hold me steady. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Evil has been loud. Ask God to break its power.

God, evil has been loud, and I’m tired of watching it win. Break its power. Bring down the cruel, and lift up the people they’ve crushed. Let every dark scheme be exposed, and every hidden thing come to light. Don’t let wickedness have the last word in my city, my family, or my own heart. Rise up and judge what is wrong, because You are just. I will do good in the meantime, and I trust You to finish it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For the people who do harm and keep getting away with it.

Lord, I’m bringing You the people who do harm and keep getting away with it. Stop them. Let the hole they dug be the one they fall into. Let the trouble they cause return to their own heads. Silence their lies, and turn back every plan against the innocent. If they will repent, give them the chance. If they won’t, put an end to what they are doing. Be the judge I can’t be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Psalms pray this boldly, and so can you. Justice is still God’s to give.

Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded. Psalm 35:4

He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made. The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head. Psalm 7:15-16

Lord, You gave us these words, so I’m praying them. I’m asking You to turn back everyone who plots my ruin. Let their own trap catch them. Let their plans be confounded. I won’t take revenge, because that is Yours, but I’m not going to pretend I don’t want justice. Arise and act. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A few lines to pray in the moment, when you see them or hear their name.

Lord, I lift up the person who has hurt me. I don’t want to hold on to this anger. Soften my heart, and soften theirs. Protect me from what they might do, and protect them from what they might become. Give me peace today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus asks the hardest thing: to pray for the people who hurt you.

But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28

Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Jesus, You told me to love my enemies and to pray for those who mistreat me. I can’t do that on my own, so please do it in me. I bring them to You, and I ask You to bless them, to change them, and to meet them where they are. Don’t let evil overcome me. Help me overcome it with good. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When you’re ready to let go of the grudge, one prayer at a time.

Father, there’s someone I’d rather not pray for, and I’m praying for them anyway. You know what they did and how much it hurt. I’m not pretending it didn’t happen. I’m asking You to bless them, to deal with whatever is driving them, and to draw them closer to You. Take the poison out of my heart. I want to be free of this more than I want to be proven right. Do what only You can do in both of us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What to ask God to destroy: the plans, the accusations, and the hold they have on you.

He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth. Psalm 54:5

Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked. Psalm 3:7

Lord, destroy everything they’ve built against me. Break their plans, silence their accusations, and shatter whatever power they hold over me. Arise and strike down what stands against Your purpose for my life. Let them be put to shame, and let me be lifted up. I’m leaving the rest in Your hands, because You see what I can’t, and You always judge rightly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Ask Him to stand guard at home, at work, and in your mind.

No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me, says Yahweh. Isaiah 54:17

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Lord, You are faithful, and You guard me from the evil one. Put a wall around my home, my family, and my work. Cover my mind from fear, my words from confusion, and my steps from traps I can’t see. Nothing formed against me will prevail if You are with me. Thank You for standing guard. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Before you open the first message of the day, ask Him to cover you.

Lord, before I meet anyone today, cover me. Guard my heart from bitterness, and my mouth from words I’ll regret. If someone comes against me, give me wisdom to know what to say, and the self-control to stay quiet when I should. Let me walk in peace, because You are with me. I trust You with this day, and with everyone in it. In Jesus’ name, amen.