Intentional Spiritual Warfare

Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness.   The enemy will seek and destroy those that are not being attentive to those things that are around them.  We have to be ever mindful of the enemy working around us.

We have to be intentional about our spiritual warfare.  Our weapon is prayer, and our leader is GOD who is a Rock, and a Fortress.  Our God has delivered us from the enemy.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in Him I will trust, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior.  You save me from violence.” 

2 Samuel 22:2

I went on vacation this last week.  The intent was to reflect on my personal walk with God. The first part of the trip was phenomenal.   Every morning I woke up and read the Bible and prayed.  It was a time of being immersed in the Word of God.

It was easy, there was a gas fireplace, and so I would sit on the chair near the window, and drink my hot drink.  It was a spiritual reawakening.  It was a renewing of the body and a renewing of my spirit. There was an inner glow that I felt.

The second part of the trip was good as well, but there were certain times that I felt like I was being guided to not look at God, but look at the things of this world.  I am not saying that is bad.  However, when you are trying to look at God, and the things of this world interfere, then it is a problem.

I knew that the devil was not happy with where my relationship with God was at.  The devil was not at all happy.  So, he would throw things of this world back into my line of sight.

They were little things, like watching TV instead of reading the Bible and reflecting.  That is what I had intended this trip to be all about.  It was to be a time of reflecting and reading the Bible.  I wanted time to be introspective, and see what God wants for my life.

The devil does not like it when we do that.  He will put little things in our path to interrupt our life.  Sometimes, it is just the little things that keep our minds focused elsewhere.  Do you find that you get distracted, especially when you are intentionally spending time with God?

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those that fear Him, and He delivers them.” Psalm 34:7

            God is always there.  It is our duty to be intentional in our prayer life.  If we feel that the devil is trying to distract us from God, we must fight.  It is our lives, and we must protect it from evil.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 

James 4:7

Remember the devil is not a cute little character who is seen in commercials or movies.  He is evil.  God is STRONGER.  We must put a hedge around ourselves. 

The hedge is prayer.  Prayer is an amazing thing.  It has the ability to do amazing things.  It also has the power to make the devil flee. 

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31

Dear Lord,

Thank you for being my fortress where I can be protected against the enemy.  If You are for me, then who can be against me?  You are my Rock, my Salvation.  Help me to realize that when I feel the attack of the enemy that all I need is prayer.  You are the Ultimate Fighter.  You bring the devil to his knees.  Guard me from the enemy.

Amen

Laura Maxson

Intentionally Becoming a Prayer Warrior

            Do you know that we live in a war zone?  We do, and the enemy is not happy that it is losing.  Our enemy is the devil, and he knows that he has lost this war.  Yet, he is trying with all his might to take as many as he can down with him.

            The devil is real, and he isn’t this cute little red creature with horns.  He is real, and there are no weapons made by man that can destroy him.  It is only in the name of Jesus that we can stop him.  The only thing that scares the devil is when we cry out to the Lord.  Evil has no power over our God.

            Does it sometimes seem that the devil is working hard on our family and friends?  Evil seems to be attacking our family and friends by using others against them. God has an answer to that.  He has given us directions to follow to protect our family, or friends, and ourselves.  They are directions for praying intentionally.  Praying and encircling our family, friends, and ourselves in a circle of protection.

            This last week, I cried out the name of Jesus.  I yelled at the devil.  I told him that in Jesus name, the devil had zero power over my family.  In Jesus name, the devil was to leave my family alone.  In the name of Jesus, the devil has ZERO power.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Ephesians 6:10-13

            We have to intentionally put on that armor of God.  Every morning, it should be the first thing we put on.  It is to help prepare us for the day, we need to be ready for war.  War, not in the literal sense, but in the mental sense. 

                        Evil likes it when we are too busy to spend time in the word.  He rejoices it when we attack each other with gossip, or lies.  We are not alone.  God is with us. So, it is our duty to use the weapon of prayer. There is power in the name of Jesus.  There is POWER in the name of JESUS.

The devil tries to get us any way he can.  If we could truly see what is going on all around us, we would be petrified.  For we battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the devil and his evil forces.  Do not be afraid.  For our God is mightier than the devil and his forces combined. 

We need to be more vigilant in what is going on around us.  We need to encircle our family and friends in prayer.   They are being attacked, and we need to do our part. Every day we need to have the armor of God on.  It takes an intentionally act on our part.  I am not saying these things to scare anyone, but to remind each of us that we need to be very intentional in being prayer warriors.  Our loved ones need us to be prayer warriors.

¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  Ephesians 6:19-20

There was this prayer on Pinterest that I found.  I read it, and it is something that I want to do for my life.  Every day, I want to intentionally put on the armor of God.

Heavenly Father, I am your warrior – prepare me for battle.  Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God!  I put on the Girdle of truth!  May I stand firm in the truth of your word so I will not be a victim of Satan’s lies.  I put on the breastplate of righteousness! May it guard my heart from evil so that I will remain pure and holy, protected under the blood of Jesus Christ, I put on the sandals of peace!  May I stand firm in the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel, so YOUR peace will shine through me and be a light to all I encounter.  I take the shield of faith!  May I be ready for Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, denial and deceit so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.  I put on the helmet of salvation. May I keep my mind focused on You so Satan will not have a stronghold on my thoughts. I take the Sword of the Spirit!  May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.  By FAITH, Your warrior has put on the whole armor of God.  I am prepared to live this day in spiritual victory, in Jesus Name.

AMEN!

Laura Maxson