I often send out messages to people I love via Facebook, text or email to encourage them, but most of all to tell them that I prayed for them that day. Why is this so important? We live in a world where most of our attention and time is spent reacting to the physical world around us. The events of our relationships, jobs, finances and environment affect us on every level. Take a moment and reflect on this verse, “Eph. 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
Behind the veil of this physical world is a world that is even more real than what we can see and touch. The spiritual world is not a world filled with ghost and goblins trying to scare people like some would suppose, but rather, it is a war. Right now there is a war happening in the spiritual realm for your heart and mind. There is a fight for the heart and mind of your children, your friends and your family.
Stop for just a moment and consider the evidence of how this war is affecting you and the people around you.
John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
This verse tells you the enemy wants to steal our life, destroy our life and ultimately separate us from God forever. The second half of this verse tells us that Jesus came to give us life and the opportunity to live life to the fullest.
How do we do that?
-The voice of God has to be louder in our life than the voice of the enemy.
-The truth of God has to be implanted in our heart.
-The Holy Spirit has to be in control.
-We need personal spiritual leaders in our life.
-Be on mission with other Christ followers in church using your spiritual gifts
-Give yourself to prayer
A powerful prayer life is a game changer. When we go to war on our knees we fight in the spiritual realm. When we pray on behalf of people we are standing in the gap and it is making a difference. Developing a powerful prayer strategy is one of the greatest ways that we can minster to our world and to the people that God has given us love, lead and live with.
I Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and His strength. Seek his face continually.
Psalms 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: you have enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Psalms 145:18 The LORD is near to all them that call on him, to all that call on him in truth.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 18:1 And he spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
I Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
James 4:3 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
