Praying for God to punish people

I have never prayed for vengenace on anyone but I have prayed that someone would go away, I don't mean go away in the sense that they die but that this person would go away and stop causing trouble in our family. But God didn't see it my way and maybe it was a good thing, atleast I hope so because she's the mother of my grandchild and my son married her on Sat. For whatever reason, maybe it's to still help her to come to Christ, God did not see fit for her to go away from this family. I could tell you stories that would raise the hair on the back of your head and there have been times that we felt she was demon possessed but God knows her heart and since He chose not to send her away, then I must accept and have faith that they will make this marriage work and let Jesus be Lord of their life.

 

It is a better thing to pray for their Salvation if they dont know the Lord.

If they do know the Lord then you must take another brother with you and call on them and work it out.

 

I've never prayed for vengence or for God to punish someone per say; but in the case of someone who is continually dishonoring God, knowing better and refusing to repent, I have prayed and asked God to take that individual home.

 

In by BC days, I took my own vengeance, especially as I could hide behind a badge & get away with it. After being saved, I sometimes prayed that someone may receive his/her just reward, but then I realized God's gonna give EVERYONE his/her just reward.

Now I pray that, if someone does me wrong, that God correct it. That doesn't mean that if I discover someone has shortchanged me, that I won't take it upon myself to straighten it out or that I won't defend my family or myself with all necessary force...but if someone says bad things about me or otherwise lies about my family or myself, I place the matter before GOD instead of taking my own vengeance or wishing them dead.

 

I dont because I am afraid that it would backfire on me, although the psalms seem to be full of imprecatory prayers.

Examples in Psalm 2, 37, 69, 109, 139, 143, which contain expressions of an apparent vengeful attitude towards enemies.

 

The one person who had the most right to pray for God to punish or condemn or pass judgement on others didn't. Rather He asked God to forgive them.
He should be our model.

 

I don't believe we should pray for God to punish people. God has a way of being the great equalizer..... It is in his plan.

 

No, I do not believe we should pray for God to punish people.

 

If we aren't to pray for God to deal with those who are against us, then what do you do with all the psalms mentioned in the previous posts. Scripture is full of people who have prayed that God deal with his enemies. I have no problem asking God to deal with those who have or are trying to ruin the ministry God has place me in. It is up to him now as to how and when he deals with them.

 

"Bless them that curse you"

"Vengeance is mine saith The Lord, I will repay.

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

Selah,

Bro. James

 

I think the prayers in Psalms, since they are God's word, were done under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God may have wanted David to pray this way, since that is how God was dealing with people in the OT (direct punishment). Also, David was chosen by God to be a precursor and ancestor of Jesus. So his prayers for destruction of his enemies was perhaps, in a way, prayer for God's judgment on the enemies of the kingdom God was setting up.

I am not sure we can take the prayers like that in Psalms as a "go-ahead" for us to pray for our enemies to be punished, especially when God tells us directly elsewhere not to take vengeance, and Jesus said to love and pray for (not against) our enemies (Matt 5.43-44).

 

I usually pray for my attitude towards those people who set out to harm me, and I pray that God will deal with it and help me to leave it alone.

 

Yes, and recently.
The last time was that a child abuser would be caught. I took the necessary steps to prevent the child from being harmed, and mamma wasn't happy. While she quit abusing the child in the presence of others (many witnesses, apparently nobody else was willing to step up though), she tried to make my life miserable.
I prayed quite regularly a prayer that usually followed pleas in this order: let her see the truth in you and repent and change, let her be caught in the act, let her become harmed physically so that she cannot touch the child again.
It was a "please do this and if you don't can this be done and if that can't let this be done" type of prayer.
From what I saw before I moved from the area she hadn't changed much, hadn't been caught by anyone else who would do anything, and is now going blind.
I have no problem with such types of prayer. It was done in Psalms, and in Revelation you have the martyrs under the throne questioning God as to when their blood will be avenged. I've seen such prayers answered.
For example, there was a pregnant woman who worked in a store with my then pastor's daughter and smoked nonstop. The daughter prayed that she'd get too sick to smoke. She prayed this prayer for the sake of the child. It happened the next day and the woman was unable to smoke, although after she got better she started again.
I think it really depends on your intentions. Justice and vengeance can have two different meaning. I don't believe it is wrong to ask for justice.
Gina

 

I don't pray for God to punish anyone. Rather, I pray that God will change their life, for the better, and also change mine so I can leave it with Him.

I prefer to 'heap coals of fire' on their heads and bless them...

Blessings and curses, both, can come back on us and I would much rather have a returned blessing.

§ue

 

I pray that God will help them see their mistakes and that they will in turn ask for forgiveness. Even when someone wrongs me I just feel sorry for them and like the above post, I just leave it to God to sort out. Revenge only feels good at that moment, but once you realized you were wrong in seeking revenge it doesn't feel so good anymore.

 

Sometimes when we really don't know what to pray it is best for the Holy Spirit to intercede for us.