“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray…” – James 5:13 (NIV)
Beloved, a Christian is as weak or as strong as his/her prayer life. There is always a need to have a prayer shield around your life, your spouse, and your family, including those who are in the household of faith and those you hold near and dear to your heart. Remember, as active soldiers of the cross, you are on the forefront of the battlefield, winning souls for the kingdom of God. As such, your person, personality, and possessions are consistently under attack by the forces of darkness. Jesus in John 10:10 (NIV) declared, “The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”.
When we read the biblical account of King Jehoshaphat found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, we see that the combined armies of the Ammonites, Moabites, and Mount Seir’s mission was to use their military might to invade Judah. The king, however, proclaimed a time of prayer and fasting to the Lord for his nation. Secondly, he acknowledged and praised God for His Omnipotence and reminded Him of His covenant of protection towards His people, and thirdly displayed total humility and utter dependence on God’s divine intervention. Brethren, this is only one template of prayer; there are many Jewels we can receive as a template of prayer.
As King Jehoshaphat made himself vulnerable and prayerfully interceded for the people of Israel, acknowledging that he was powerless against the vast army coming to attack them, the Spirit of the Lord spoke through an ordinary citizen, Jahaziel. He encouraged the king “not to be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15 – NIV).
In the end, God caused the pagan armies to fight among themselves and totally destroy each other. Indeed, the battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is ours (1 Samuel 17:47). Indeed, the key to victory is a prayer of intercession.
Friends, prayer is a spiritual weapon against the wiles of the devil, for God can turn every negative circumstance for good, and what may look hopeless will become a victory in Christ. Let us prayerfully ward off fear and hopelessness and remain in God’s blessed assurance of love, divine protection, provision, peace, and joy. Let us pray.
Read: Psalm 65:2; Matthew 26:41
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 2; Matthew 2:1-18; Genesis 2:18-25; Genesis 3; Genesis 4:1-16
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