Prayer, Your Main Defense in Battle

Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

─ 2  Thessalonians 3:2-3 NLT

The door slammed hard behind Nathan as he came into the house after a full day. His wife, Alisha rushed from the kitchen to the front door. “Everything all right?” she asked.

“Huh, oh, yes,” he replied, distracted. “I’m so sorry I let the wind catch the door,” he sighed, as he let his briefcase and other work items fall from his arms onto the couch.

“Bad day?” she asked?

“Terrible!” he admitted. I felt like I had to fight hard to accomplish the smallest of tasks today. I sensed it wasn’t physical, but spiritual.”

Under the top layer of life, hidden in the pieces of daily routine, a savage war wages between hidden spiritual forces of evil and good. We are caught up in the terrible battle that erupted long before we were ever created.

In our verse today we find our main defense is prayer that God will protect us from the evil one and strengthen us. As Christ followers, God’s enemy is our enemy. The battle is against rulers and authorities, the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan. We can withstand their attacks; we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armor.

The following guidelines will help you prepare for and emerge victorious from the enemy’s evil plans:

1. Take the threat of spiritual attack seriously.
2. Pray for strength and help from God.
3. Study the Bible to recognize Satan’s style and tactics.
4. Memorize Scripture so it will be a source of help no matter where you are.
5. Associate with those who speak the truth.
6. Practice what you are taught by sound spiritual leaders.

Today’s One Thing

God’s armor is described in the following verses, which have been personalized for you to say as a prayer:

I will be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. I put on the full armor of God, so that I can take my stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. I put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, I am ready and able to stand my ground, and after I have done everything, to stand. Still, I will stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, I take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. I take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV, adapted).

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