A Prayer Against Hate

As Christians, we still have a battle in us—a battle between the flesh and the spirit, as written in Galatians 5:16-17. These are always opposed to each other. The desires of the flesh are against the spirit, and the spirit’s desires are against the flesh. That is why, as Christians, we do struggle at times with sin. It is similar to what the apostle Paul himself experienced, as mentioned in Romans 7:15-24. He does the things he does not want to do, and the things he wants to do, he does not. That is also why sometimes we are tempted or struggle with hate. That is not to say that sin still has power over us. It only means that we are works in progress. We struggle because as products of a new heart in Christ, we no longer want sin.

Heavenly Father, I thank You because I am already freed from sin in Christ. Though I may struggle, Your power is at work in me so that I may say “No” to sin. If I fall, I thank You because I have Christ, my advocate, Whom I can press on in this journey of sanctification. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Why Do We Have to Pray When Tempted to Hate?

Why, then, should we pray when tempted to hate? It is because being tempted to hate but not succumbing to it is a hard struggle. That is precisely why we need to pray. Not hating but responding in love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do. We pray because it takes the Holy Spirit’s work in us to remind us that we were once sinners who were only saved and forgiven by the grace and mercy of God.

Another reason we pray when tempted to hate is that it is something that we have to humbly depend on God for as we acknowledge that it is only through the Holy Spirit’s power in us that we can respond in a Christlike manner. 

Though sin’s power is already defeated in Christ, we are not slaves to sin anymore but slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:15-23). We are still works in progress. That is why we still struggle with certain sins. At times, one of the things that we may struggle with is hate. Indeed, hating someone seems to be justifiable when someone has wronged us or done something to us that is unfair or very painful. We have all the reasons to hate someone. However, the Bible tells us not to hate our brothers and sisters in Christ who have sinned against us but to cover their offenses (Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.). We are also to love one another because this is how the world will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). Even when dealing with unbelievers, we are to love them just as we love ourselves. If someone has wronged us, we are not to avenge ourselves but show them mercy. We are not to overcome evil with evil but with good (Romans 12:19-21).

If indeed, as Christians, we have encountered the love of God in Christ, we will forgive those who have done us wrong (1 John 4:20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.). We forgive not because we ignore or forget what others have done to us—this would invalidate us. We know and acknowledge that what others did was indeed painful. However, more than that, we know that we also did the same to God. We sinned and offended a holy God. However, God showed us grace and mercy in the person of Christ and forgave us. If God forgave us, who are we not to forgive others? (Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.).

These things we have mentioned are by no means easy. That is why we need to pray.

How Can You Pray Against Hate?

You pray against the hate you feel by being humble before God, knowing that you need His help and grace to overcome it and not act on the hate you feel. The good thing is that, in Christ, we can come before God’s throne of grace and ask Him for the necessary mercy and grace. You can also pray against hate by praying that you will do the opposite, which is to love whoever has offended you, show him or her mercy, refrain from counting his or her offense, and forgive whatever he or she may have done. In all of these occasions when you pray, you ask the Holy Spirit for help and empowerment. That is one of the reasons why Christ gave us the Holy Spirit—to help us with our Christian living.

Holy Spirit, someone has wronged me, and what they did was very painful. It was a betrayal I didn’t expect, for I trusted this person. I am tempted to hate and even retaliate against them. Help me, Holy Spirit, not to go with what my flesh wants to do but to live and keep in step with You and respond in a Christlike manner. I pray for the grace I need, for it is hard to respond in love and grace. Remind me of the mercy the Father has shown me in Christ and that if I am forgiven, I should forgive others too. In Christ, I am not a slave to sin anymore but to righteousness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Whenever you are tempted to hate and retaliate, remember that sin has no power over you because of what Christ has done on the cross. You can say “No” to sin. Also, our hope for our struggle with sin is that, someday, God will bring His work in us to completion, when we will become a hundred percent like Christ (Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.). It is something that we ought to rejoice over because God’s work is not yet done in our lives.