Thoughts for Life: #100 You Can Be A Prayer Warrior

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- Effective intercessors who are greatly used by God in prayer are at times referred to as "prayer warriors." It is correct to use the term in this way for great prayer demands doing battle with the forces of evil. God wants all His children to be prayer warriors.

Have you ever doubted that you yourself could ever become mighty in prayer? Do you feel you know your own prayer weakness too well to expect that you might become one of God's prayer warriors? Be encouraged. You can develop your own prayer life until God will surely count you as one of His real prayer warriors. (Woman praying, Unsplash)

God is constantly at war with the power of Satan. From the time of Adam and Eve till the present day, Satan has been trying to delay or defeat God's eternal plan for our earth and mankind. He will never abandon that purpose.

In the Book of Revelation we glimpse the new heaven, the new earth, and the New Jerusalem which will fulfill God's original purpose for which He created the world. Satan knows he cannot defeat that plan, but from Eden till now he has used every possible tactic to stall its completion. He was defeated at Calvary, but he is determined to fight on until his final prophesied defeat at the battle of God and Magog (20:7- 10).

God also has a personalized plan for every one of His children, coordinated to harmonize with His supreme overall plan. Satan attacks God today chiefly by attacking and hindering God's children and by seeking to deceive, harm, and damn all unsaved humanity. Satan's efforts can be defeated only by engaging him in spiritual warfare on two levels—angelic warfare and our prayer warfare.

God's children are to be warriors, advancing for God and defeating Satan again and again through prayer and obedience. Prayer alone will not be sufficient to do the job, but prayer is the basis for all obedience and the indispensable human element in the effectiveness of our obedience. While we may be limited in the area where our obedience can be used, every Christian can be effective in prayer warfare anywhere in the world.

God desires that you maintain a militant spirit, ever ready to take the initiative for God and against sin and Satan. God wants you to be always on spiritual alert, on call, ready at a moment's notice for special assignment. This means you must be vigilant and knowledgeable of the methods of prayer warfare.

Satan will oppose every effort to wage prayer warfare. He is counting on the reluctance of many Christians to enter into this kind of sacrificial prayer. Many are comfortable praying along with two or three other more spiritual Christians, but like Peter, James, and John in Garden of Gethsemane, they do not know how to spend an hour in payer.

Many have almost never had a prayer burden, or do not know how to respond to prayer burden. God wants you to have great liberty in prayer and deep experience in all forms of prayer.

While all prayer is important, prayer warfare—the highest level of prayer—is heavily dependent upon prayer warriors. This level of prayer goes even beyond prevailing prayer. We seem to have ten thousand prayer amateurs for one true prayer warrior. This need not be.

Will you be willing for God to train and use you as one of His alert and available prayer warriors? World evangelization involves heavy spiritual warfare since all spiritual advance is contended by Satan.

Spiritual conquest depends on constant prevailing prayer and repeated prayer warfare. Don't be one of those Christians who would rather work than pray.

(Chapter 28, p. 205-206, italics added for emphasis)

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Let's pray-

Father, effective intercessors who are used by You, are referred to as prayer warriors, who do battle with evil forces. Because it is Your will that all Christians become prayer warriors, You will help us develop our own prayer life until You can count on each of us to become real prayer warriors.

We are called to defeat Satan again and again through prayer and obedience. Our obedience to You in praying effectively is sufficient to do the job . While we are limited in the area we live in, we can join in warfare prayer for anywhere in the world.

Help us maintain a militant spirit and to be ready to take the initiative against sin and Satan whenever You need us on some special assignment. As Satan will oppose every effort to wage prayer warfare, we must learn to be vigilant and knowledgeable of the various methods of prayer warfare.

Though some Christians almost never have a prayer burden, we ask that they begin to respond to burdens given them. May they see prayer warfare—the highest level of prayer—is heavily dependent upon prayer warriors.

May it not be said of us that we would rather work than pray, but to get involved with heavy warfare that contends with Satan and the spiritual advancement against him for the kingdom of Christ.

We ask this in His name, and for his sake. Amen

Today's Bible verses-

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Daniel 2:21 “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

Quote for today-

~Dave Jenkins- How do we display the patience that is characteristic of Christ? First, we thank God. A person’s first reaction is usually “Why me?” but the Bible says to rejoice in God’s will (Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:6). Second, we seek His purposes. Sometimes God puts us in difficult situations so that we can be a witness. Other times, He might allow a trial for sanctification of character. Remembering that His purpose is for our growth and His glory will help us in the trial. Third, we remember His promises, such as Romans 8:28, which tells us that, “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The “all things” include the things that try our patience.

Words of wisdom-

~ Keeping our faith through years of trust in God's Ability to deliver someone from a destructive addition, can prove to be rewarding. The support of friends makes the situation bearable and can strengthen our faith. God faithfully works in lives who are prayed for, bringing answers of victory in His timing, for He has much to do for and with the person chained to an addiction.

Today's popular post:

The Spirit of Wisdom

Andrew Murray- "Making mention of you in my prayers; That . . . the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know!"