Prayer of Submission

Prayer of Submission

Abba Father, I give You praise, glory, honor and thanks

For all You have done, are doing,

And will continue to do in my life (Psalm 139:13-14).

I come to You in repentance,

Acknowledging my sin and shortcomings.

Teach me how to truly and deeply repent from my heart,

So that You can have Your perfect way in and through me (I John 1:9).

I repent for all of my sin from my infancy stage until now.

I repent for my every transgression of Your Word and Will.

“Have mercy upon me, O God,


According to Your lovingkindness;


According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,


Blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,


And cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2, NKJV).

Abba Father, wash me and cleanse me in the precious blood

Of Your Son, Jesus.

For it is only the blood of Jesus

That can wash me, cleanse me, and make me pure within.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,


And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,


And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:10-11, NKJV).

Dig deep within me, Lord.

Remove every wicked way from within me,

And set me upon Your path of righteousness and Life.

Lord, make me sensitive to the conviction of Holy Spirit.

Teach me and help me to maintain

A repentant heart at all times (Psalm 51:16-17).

Abba Father, I say yes to Your call upon my life.

Lord, I have no knowledge of who You have called me to be

Or what you require of me

I have no knowledge of what to do,

Or how to accomplish Your will for my life,

But I say yes to You!

Lord, open my eyes to see myself as You see me.

Open my eyes to see, know, and understand

Your calling upon my life.

Teach me and help me to persevere

In the pursuit of You and the fulfillment

Of Your purpose and calling upon my life (Philippians 3:13-15).

Abba Father, You have called me to the office and function

Of pastor and shepherd of Your flock.

Teach me and help me to feed the flock

That You have placed under my care (I Peter 5: 1-4).

Teach me to be the leader and shepherd

That You have ordained me to be.

Stir up Your anointing and gifts within me.

Infuse me and use me for Your honor, glory,

And the building of Your Kingdom.

Abba Father, I must know Your voice,

And I must be led by Your Spirit at all times.

There are many voices,

But it is Your voice that makes the difference.

Teach me how to hear and know Your voice.

Help me and teach me to differentiate Your voice

From every other voice in my life.

Help me and teach me to follow Your voice and leading,

Regardless of the opposing voices I hear (John 10: 4-5, 27-30).

Abba Father, I surrender to Your will the best way I know how.

I pray for a submissive spirit

Mold me and make me into that anointed disciple of God

You created, called, and ordained me to be in You (Romans 12:1-2).

Almighty God, Creator of the Heaven and Earth,

Teach me all the things I need to know

Impart Your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding within me,

Lord, I pray for wisdom to make wise decisions.

I pray for knowledge and understanding

To know and understand all the things I need

In order to fulfill Your purpose and will

For my life (Isaiah 11:1-5; James 1:4-6).

Holy Spirit, my complete dependency is upon You.

I acknowledge my complete helplessness

Without Your manifested presence within and through me.

Holy Spirit, I desperately need You

in every area of my life (John 14:25-27).

Holy Spirit, help me and teach me to include You

And acknowledge You in every area of my life

And in everything I think, say, and do (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Abba Father, please help me

So that You can help others through me.

Let me be wholly and completely Yours, and Yours alone.

Let me be Your disciple in word and deed.

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

© 2015 Thee Refiner’s Fire Ministries of Prayer,

                                            All rights reserved, Use only with permission

The Power of Prayer

               The Power of Prayer

          What is prayer?  Prayer is one of the ways in which we communicate with God.  It is a two-way conversation or communion with or between God and man.  Prayer is an act of total confidence and assurance in the plan and purpose of God. 

Prayer is a weapon designated by God to fight and disarm principalities, powers, and world rulers.  Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the world.  Man says that the atomic bomb is the most powerful weapon, but prayer is even more powerful than an atomic bomb.  There is a power in prayer that when applied properly makes the rulers of this world tremble. 

Prayer requires belief and trust in God, placing our faith with God’s faith.  Prayer wraps its arms around its object.  There is no fury in prayer.  It does not screech, but reaches towards needs.  Prayer lifts burdens.  It does not impose, but gets under a situation.  Prayer produces patience and tolerance.  Prayer brings us confidence, strength, and endurance through the storms and trials of life.  In order for us to pray and get results, we must exercise faith.  There is a prayer of faith, which releases the sick from pain, and causes men to be saved, healed, delivered, and set free from the bondage of sin and demonic oppression or possession.

Isaiah 53:5 – “But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

Prayer is of vital importance to God and man.  Prayer is a position of negotiating with God for situations on behalf of man or circumstances by the unction and leading of the Holy Spirit.  Prayer is the one of the most powerful ministries in Heaven and Earth.  Jesus Christ is ever interceding to the Father in Heaven on our behalf, while the Holy Spirit is ever interceding through His intercessors in the Earth. 

Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Prayer is not the action of a sledgehammer.  Prayer is the desire to release sinners from his fetters.  Why do we pray?  We pray to hear, to receive, to do, to tell, and to wait on the Master and Lord of our lives.  There is a power and an anointing to get into the spirit realm.  Flesh cannot take you there.  God said, “Pray and do not faint.  Do not quit and do not buckle .”  Therefore must fight. 

I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”

God said, “I will strengthen you where you are weak.  I will put strength in your weakness.  Where you need to be strengthened, I have an all-sufficient grace.  For my grace is sufficient for you.”  Paul let us know that prayer is a choice of our will.  We have to will ourselves to pray.  I have had times of not feeling or possessing any desire to pray.  Yet, when I start to pray, then the Holy Spirit takes over.  Therefore, we must always pray, “Lord, I pray for the persistency and whatever it takes to pray.”

I know from experience that the enemy will fight us when we pray, because he does not want us to pray.  Why?  Our prayer defeats the enemy, and tears down everything that he wills.  Satan will put every barrier, stumbling - block, and hindrance in our way to hinder us from praying.  When we cease to pray, we cease to fight.  Prayer disarms principalities and powers.  That is the reason we must will our wills to pray, and purpose in our hearts to pray.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Encourager.  Therefore, we must petition the Godhead, “Lord, help me and teach me to pray.”  

II Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”

The thought of spending time in prayer frightens some.  This is the working of the spirit of fear, which is one of the devil’s agents.  Prayer is one of life’s greatest blessings, when one understands what it really is and begins to engage himself in prayer.  The Lord Jesus calls each of us to a life of prayer.  He said that men ought to always pray.  Therefore, He encourages us to enter a life of prayer.  David, Moses, Abraham, Daniel, Esther, Hanna, and Anna were men and women of prayer.  These men and women of faith prayed and saw the results of their prayers.  If we are steadfast and pray, trusting God, we will see results of our prayers, as well.

          Saints of God, I encourage each of us to enter into God’s presence with prayer and thanksgiving throughout this season.  For this is a time of preparation for all God has in store for us as His people and ambassadors in the Earth.

                                        © Vera E Paul

"Oh Lord, Help Me! I Need Deliverance!"

“Oh Lord, Help Me!  I Need Deliverance!”

An Excerpt from “Revelations of Deliverance” 

  

Psalm 22:19 – “But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.”  (KJV)

            Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons designated by God.  One of the most powerful prayers and sincere petitions is when we cry out to God, “Help me!”  The cry for help is a powerful tool and ammunition against the power of darkness.  It is like the strength of a sledgehammer repeatedly thrust against a wall.  Eventually, the force of the repeated blows creates a crack in the wall.  Then the seemingly inpenetratable stone crumbles, as the wall comes tumbling down.  So many are trapped within demonic walls of sin and bondage, and their honest, humble and earnest lamenting cry for help is the powerful blow that will lead to their Salvation, Healing and Deliverance.

Psalm 40:13-17 – “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.  Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.  Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.  Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.”  (KJV)

            When we do not feel well in our bodies, we go to a doctor and ask for help.  Then the doctor asks us to describe the symptoms of our illness.  If necessary, the doctor may conduct blood tests or X - rays, in order to provide an accurate diagnosis and prescription.  In the same way, when something is not right in our lives, we ought to go to God for help, because He is our Helper.  Yet, sometimes we go to the wrong source or wrong place for help.  The vilest sinner can cry out to God “Help me!”, and receive an answer from God leading to the salvation, healing, deliverance, and restoration of their soul from a life of sin and bondage.  The weakest man can cry for help and receive strength.  Yet, when we ask God for help, we must mean it.  The cry for deliverance is a DESPERATE cry.  This cry must come sincerely from the heart, not mere lip service.  When the pain and suffering of our bondage is severe, we often cry out to God for help.  Yet, when the cry for deliverance does not come from the heart, we return to the same bondage.  This shallow and insincere cry is insufficient for lasting deliverance. 

Ephesians 6:10-13 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  (KJV)

            So many, even in the church, are carriers of demons, yet calling themselves saved, sanctified and full of the Holy Ghost.  Why?  Because so many are too proud or blind to acknowledge their need for help, especially in the area of deliverance.  It just doesn’t sound “proper” or “nice” to admit that you are full of demons.  Even those who know that something is drastically wrong are unwilling to do whatever it takes to be set free from their bondage.  When we cry out to God for help, we cannot demand His help on OUR terms.  No!  We must come to God on His terms.  We must completely submit and surrender to Him.  Jesus is the ONLY Way to Salvation, Healing, and Deliverance.  After all, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection that purchased our Salvation, Healing, and Deliverance. 

2 Timothy 3:13 – “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”  (KJV)

            Yet, so many choose to believe Satan’s lie that we can all go our own way, and still end up in the same Heaven, here on Earth (through “blessings” of material prosperity) and in the Presence of God throughout Eternity.  Unfortunately, many are deceived and many are deceiving themselves. 

Revelation 3:17 – “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”  (KJV)

            One has to know that they need help and deliverance to ask for it.  Yet, some are blind, and unable to see or acknowledge their need for deliverance.  Then, when God sends a messenger to help them, they become angry and reject the help that God has sent them.  One must know the areas in their life where they need deliverance.  Yet, how can a blind man see?  Pride is a mind blinding spirit that blinds us from the Truth that will set us free.  For this reason, we must ask God for the Spirit of humility.  We must also seek God’s face continually for deliverance in every area of our lives, because the deliverance process will never cease until we meet Jesus face to face in Eternity.  For example, the spirit of unforgiveness often hinders our deliverance, because the TRUTH of the Scripture states that we cannot receive God’s forgiveness, unless we forgive others.  Yet, how often do we, the people of God, overlook this TRUTH in our daily lives?  Even in this, we must cry out to God for help.  For He alone can give us the power to forgive when our heart is full of anger, resentment and unforgiveness.  

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”  (KJV)
  
            We must humble ourselves, in order to acknowledge our need for deliverance.  Then we must cry out to God, “Oh Lord, help me!  I need deliverance!”  It is important to realize that our cry for help is a PREREQUISITE to our Salvation, Healing, and Deliverance.  We have a choice.  We can choose to hold onto our pride and remain in bondage, or humble ourselves before God, as we cry out to Him for HELP and DELIVERANCE!  We must use this powerful tool by crying out from the depths of our hearts, “Oh Lord, help me!  I need deliverance!”

© 2011 Vera E. Paul & Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, Use only with permission

Word of the Lord: "I AM Calling Church Leaders to a Deeper Depth of Prayer!"

Word of the Lord: 

“I AM Calling Church Leaders to a Deeper Depth of Prayer”

Spoken and Written Monday, July 25, 2011

James 5:16 – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”  (KJV).

           The Word of the Lord came unto me saying, “I AM calling church leaders to a deeper depth of prayer.”  God continued to speak and reveal to me the condition of His leaders.  So many leaders are not hearing God’s voice or understanding what He is saying to them.  So many leaders are getting their own interpretation of God’s Word to them and His Will or Instructions.  So many leaders are seeking people’s advice, rather than pressing in prayer to receive Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding directly from God, Who is our Source.  If the people from whom leaders seek advice are not distinctly hearing God, they of themselves cannot tell the leaders what God is saying to them.  Therefore, they advise leaders according to their own thoughts, rather than the true Word and Will of the Lord. 

          For this reason, God is calling His leaders to a deeper depth of prayer, in order to receive a deeper Revelation and Understanding of what God is saying to them.  When we pray intensively and press into a deeper depth of prayer, we will pray through into a place of hearing, seeing, understanding, and discerning in the Spirit.  Too many of God’s leaders are on the surface level where their own thoughts and demonic interference hinders their ability to hear and discern the voice of God. 

         We could never go “deep enough” in the Spirit, because there is always a deeper depth beyond where we have reached in the Spirit realm.  God wants to reveal Himself in a greater way to His leaders, and He is waiting on us to press into a deeper depth of prayer, in order to receive deeper Revelation from Him.  There are no limitations to the depth of prayer and intercession, where God will take us when we submit ourselves to Him.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper.  He is the One, Who will take us into a deeper depth of prayer, because we cannot do anything on our own.  God is saying that so many leaders are trying to do the work of ministry on their own.  They seek out a Word from the prophets, rather than going straight to God, Who is the Source of all Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding.  Leaders do not pray for themselves the way that they ought to pray.  Leaders must labor intensively and extensively in prayer before the Lord, in order to effectively and accurately represent God to His people.

1 Samuel 15:22 – “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (KJV).

          God is also calling His leaders to obedience.  God is saying, “I AM tired of the people’s vain oblations.”  God requires obedience from His people.  Jesus walked in obedience to His Father.  God’s people are not walking in obedience.  So often, we do as we please, and ask God to stamp His approval on it.  We must first hear God’s voice clearly, in order to obey His Word unto us.  For this reason, the Scripture states, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayith to the churches” (KJV, Revelation 2:29).  Saints of God, it is time to press into a deeper depth of prayer, hear the Word of the Lord, and obey His Instructions.  Let us not waste another moment.  It is time to act upon the Word of the Lord: “I AM calling church leaders to a deeper depth of prayer!”  

© 2011 Vera E. Paul, All rights reserved, Use only with permission

True Repentance Leads to Holiness

True Repentance Leads to Holiness

          God is calling the church to repentance, which leads to holiness.  A life of Holiness requires a separation from all that is sinful.  Character wise, one must present them self, holy unto God.  In order to live holy, one must contain or restrain them self, not being loose or unstable in thought, motive, conversation or deed.  The fear of the Lord and obedience to His Law ought to restrain His people from living a life of sin and ungodliness.  The desire to please God ought to lead His people into a life of Holiness and Righteousness.     

Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

How can one live the life of Holiness that God requires of him?  How can we give up our life of sin?  How can we give up the pleasures of this world?  This full and complete sacrifice and commitment to God may seem difficult, but we must rely on God, Who is our Source.  He is our Strength in weakness.  He is Knowledge and Understanding in the midst of ignorance and confusion.  God is Everything that we need to live Holy.  We have to want to live Holy.  We have to really want a change in our lives.  Holiness is only possible with and through the help and power of Almighty God.  For He is a very present help in troubled times.  The first step we can take is to cry out, “Oh God, help me!” from the depths of our soul.  We must MEAN the words that we pray when we cry out for God’s help.  We must not just speak words, when deep down we do NOT want to change our life style.  Words alone are meaningless, unless they are accompanied with honesty and sincerity of heart. 
Jesus Christ is the only answer to the sinful state of man.  Jesus came as the first fruit of righteousness and holiness, so that every man who is grafted into Him, the True Vine, can bear the same fruit of Holiness. 

          How would God help me?  He will help us through the weapon and practice of prayer.  God said that we are to present our bodies holy and acceptable in His sight, and that our lives are to be blameless.  God requires that we make our lives a living sacrifice, as saints of God.  We serve a Holy God.  You and I are the ones who benefit from a life of holiness, through which God is glorified.

I Thessalonians 3:13 – “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

Luke 1:74-75 – “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”

          God has commanded us, “Be ye holy as I am holy.”  This means that a life of Holiness is possible.  Saints of God, we can live Holy with His help.  To live a holy life, we must be freed from the presence and power of sin.  This does not mean that we will never sin.  Yet, there will be a decrease of sin and an increase of holiness in our lives.  How will we be freed from sin?  The blood of Jesus still flows and still cleanses sin stained hearts and consciences.  His blood is still effective today.  His blood will never lose its power and effectiveness.
          Holiness requires a commitment and sacrifice.  Saints of God, we must commit ourselves to God, not a part, but all of us.  It must be done minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, week-by-week, year-by-year, until Jesus comes again.  We must be free from malice, anger, bitterness, backbiting, lust, adultery, fornication, stealing, and dishonesty.  These habits are sinful. 
Sometimes believers dress, speak, and behave as though they are of the world.  We are to be in the world, but not of the world.  Holiness must be evident in the life of the believer.  What we once used to wear, we have exchanged for modest apparel.  What we once used to speak, we have exchanged for a new clean and holy conversation.  What we once used to do, we have exchanged for holy and righteous living.  This entire exchange may not happen over night, but there WILL be a change that is evident to all.
          When sin is in the house, the vessel is not clean.  God is saying that sin is in His house.  Sin is manifested daily, as God’s people overstep His law.  Sin is forbidden by God, yet often tolerated and accepted in His house.  This ought not to be so!  It was the same in Jesus’ day.  For this reason, He demonstrated righteous anger and cleansed the temple, proclaiming that His Father’s house ought to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.  How is this any different today?  There is SO LITTLE prayer in God’s house, yet so much talk of buying and selling and material prosperity!  The House of God has become a marketplace rather than a House of prayer and worship.  Saints of God, this is an abomination to God!  For this reason, God is calling the Church to Repentance, which leads to Holiness!

© 2011 Vera E. Paul, All rights reserved, Use only with permission

A Warrior's Heart - Poem

Psalm 144:1-2 - "Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:  My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me."  (KJV)

 

A Warrior’s Heart

From the very start

In me was placed a warrior’s heart

My destiny God knew

So His art in me grew

A valiant warrior I am

Strategic warfare I understand

Gifted in the warrior’s craft

Persistence I do not lack

Struggle I knew

Because of you,

Oh lack

But I came back

With Holy Ghost glue

I became new

He held me together

Through turbulent weather

Though demonic winds blew

He shielded me from the dew

The sun and the rain

Strength I regained

When He became my shelter

Delivering me from helter skelter

To the world I go

For fight I know

And that I do very well

Nothing I sell

But His Truth I tell

So undeserving

With all my frailty and swerving

He keeps me on the straight and narrow

And aims my way like an arrow

My way is lit

The enemy is hit

This warrior’s heart inside of me

Is not sold at a fee

God’s Grace is free

Until Eternity,

Likewise, this gift inside of me

Is absolutely free.

© Vera Paul, All rights reserved, use only with permission

THE MIND:  THE BATTLEGROUND (Part 2)

Genesis 2:16-17 – “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (KJV)

 

Genesis 3:4-6 – “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:   For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (KJV)

 

           The mind of man is a battleground.  There is always a war waging between God and Satan for the minds of men, because Satan is always fighting to control men’s minds.  This battle of the mind began in the Garden of  Eden, when Satan tempted Eve to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

            Although men experience peace at times, the enemy always sits in counsel with his cohorts, planning another strategic attack against them.  They counsel to devise a plan to overthrow men.  They extensively study men, and discuss their next step or move of action.  In fact, Satan often knows the weaknesses of men better than they know themselves.  At times, men give the enemy all of the information that they need to defeat them through the words that they speak out openly.  Then the enemy strategizes and moves according to this information. 

Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”    

        

            For this reason, we ought to watch and pray at all times.  Saints of God, when we cease to pray, we cease to fight.  There are different types of prayer for difference circumstance and situations.  The battle of the mind REQUIRES war faring prayer.  The battle is not ours.  Rather, the battle is the Lord’s, because we are unable to stand against the enemy on our own.  Therefore, we must allow the Lord, Who is Mighty in Battle, to fight through us.  Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has fought many battles and yet, He has never lost even one.  He is always victorious.  He has not only made a way, but He is the Way of victory for those of us who choose to surrender completely to Him.  

II Corinthians 10:4 – 6  “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (KJV)

            War faring prayer is a powerful and dangerous weapon designated by God to divert and overthrow Satan’s entire plan.  When Jesus died and rose from the grave, He rose victoriously and entrusted weapons of warfare into our hands.  War faring prayer is one of the most powerful weapons available to mankind.  War faring prayer gets under Satan’s plan, roots it up, and destroys it.  War faring prayer has the power to break, smash, and tear up the enemy’s plan.  War faring prayer has the power to destroy all that Satan builds for his destructive purposes. 

Romans 8:26 – “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (KJV) 

            

            When we seek God’s face, God will reveal the enemy’s plan, so that we can be a step ahead of him at all times.  Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will expose the enemy’s cunning and strategic tactics against us.  Therefore, we must be sensitive to the presence, quickening and leading of the Holy Spirit.  When we engage in spiritual warfare, we pray to defeat the enemy.  When we are engaged in battle against the adversary, our prayer must be powerful and dangerous, in order to destroy the enemy’s plan.  Therefore, we must seek God’s face and ask the Holy Spirit, Who is our Helper, to intensify our prayer, in order to overcome the advancing enemy.  The ammunition that God gives us is the power of the Holy Spirit within our prayer, which is same resurrected power of Jesus Christ, the Mighty Warrior Himself. 

            Who can stand against God?  God IS Power.  He is the powerful Creator, Who created power.  Can you stand against the voltage of lightning?  No one is able to test or control lightning, yet God is even more powerful than the power of lightning.  Nothing and no one can be compared to the power of Almighty God.  Satan is a mere counterfeit.  He imitates everything that God does, in order to deceive men into cowering under his influence.  He comes with his counterfeit ammunition of confusion, fear, doubt, unbelief and the master demonic spirit, which is lust.  He confuses the minds of men who allow him to do so.  He makes his uninvited, deadly entry into the minds of men, who have opened a door to him.  Then he tries to destroy the minds of men, because when men’s minds are not functioning correctly, their lives spin under his control.  Sometimes he is successful, when men are weak, due to their failure to watch and pray continuously.  
  
            Satan comes with his first round of ammunition, which is confusion.  He strikes and strikes hard.  Fear, doubt, and unbelief are right along side to help.  Men are conscious that something is wrong, but they are not praying and therefore, too weak to fight against the enemy’s attack.  The enemy’s blow to their mind causes them to lose strength and a sense of direction.  The enemy strikes again with fear and lust, bringing the flesh under subjection to his control.  Man’s attention is diverted by the demonic storm within their mind, and they take their eyes off God.  Satan strikes again.  Man gets weak and loses his weapon of war faring prayer.  He becomes powerless and Satan gains entry.  This is the reason that men should never cease to watch and pray. 

1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (KJV)

 

            Saints of God, we must be alert at all times, because the enemy has purposed to kill and to defeat us through the battle of our minds.  Our mind is where we think and function first before we speak or act.  Before we ever fall into the sin of words and actions, we must first lose the battle of our minds!  That is why we should always be alert to the enemy’s devices and ready to wage war with the weapons of our warfare that God has so graciously entrusted to us.  Saints of God, we must be armed for battle at all times.

            

            The devil does not rest or sleep.  So, he brings restlessness to men and even attacks men’s mind as they sleep.  Men must rest and sleep.  Yet, even in our deepest sleep, when the enemy is about to strike, the Holy Spirit can alert us and reveal the enemy’s plan.  God speaks to us through dreams and visions.  While we sleep, the Holy Spirit wages war against the enemy through the spirit of those who have surrendered themselves to Him.  Saints of God, we must wear the armor of God even in our sleep, just as warriors in battle must sleep in their fatigue with their loaded rifle by their side. 

           

            This depth of warfare does not just happen on its own.  We must seek God’s face constantly and pray, “Lord, teach me how to pray.  Fight and wage war through me.  Alert me even in my sleep to the presence and strategies of the enemy.  Satan, I rebuke, bind, and cast you out from within, around, and upon me in Jesus’ name.  Father God, I commit my spirit, soul, and body into Your hands and keeping.  Teach me and help me to pray without ceasing.  Holy Spirit, pray and intercede through me even in my sleep.  Lord Jesus, cover me with Your blood, and protect me from the enemy’s devices.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. ”

            Saints of God, we can effectively use the weapon of prayer that God has entrusted to us, if we would stay well locked in with God.  Through diligent prayer, God will not withhold anything from us.  The mind is a battleground.  God has commanded us to possess the land for Him.  Yet, we will never effectively possess anything for God, until He has full possession of our minds.   

© 2011 Vera E. Paul, All rights reserved, Use only with permission