We like nice. We like polite. We like to agree. We love encouragement. We crave peace. Yet, friend, we live in a world filled with meanness, with selfishness and with discord. If you doubt this, you have only to read your newsfeed or take a drive on a busy highway. Most all of us have experienced disappointment, loss, pain and yes, conflict. Yet, we want to ‘pray nice’.
The Lord reminds us to be sober-minded; be watchful, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 That’s right. We have an adversary. The devil prowls throughout the world looking for someone to devour!
God wants us to prayer in power. Let’s talk Spiritual Warfare. Jesus said to his disciples, Behold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:19 Jesus didn’t mince words here. He wanted his disciples to know they would be battling the enemy.
Later, Paul reminded the Ephesians that God gave them armor against the enemy of this dark world. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Eph 6:11-13
On every team there is a time to play defense, but there is a time to play offense. There is a time to step out in warfare prayer to advance the kingdom of God. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Cor 10:3-5
If you are battling a situation that is causing you pain and you know it is not what the Lord wants for you, fight back. If you are having thoughts today that are not what God would want you to be focusing on; thoughts that are causing you to doubt, to feel rejected, to feel insignificant; fight back! Do not allow the enemy to win. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
If you want to resist the devil, to flee from him, take time to Praise God! Sing praises to the Lord. Take time to pray! Pray and pour out your heart to God. Then, praise him in prayer. Read God’s promises from the Scriptures; promises to love you, promises to never leave you nor forsake you. The devil must flee when you do this. Take your thoughts captive and remember your blessings.
Stop ‘praying nice’ and pray offensively. Pray as in a battle for yourself. Pray remembering to say to the Lord, You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91 Pray to evict the enemy and find that peace you want so badly – a peace from God.
By Jacqui - One of God's Intercessors