A Warrior’s Prayer – Part 2
Click here for “A Warrior’s Prayer – Part 1”.
Prayer does two things.
It both defines and strengthens your relationship with God. Prayer is not for the weak of heart. Because prayer drives you through the crowded corridors of troubles, hardships, doubts and unbelief, in order to grab a hold of God. (cf. Mt.9:20-21)
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Jas 5:16)
Though he be fortified by such faith, the Christian warrior becomes meekly aware of his own short-comings. He sees his human weakness. He gradually realize that “in me… dwelleth no good thing.” (Rom.7:18) He comes to understand that it is only the Spirit of God Who does the work, not himself. (Jn.14:10) For, like all flesh, he too is but dust.
Coming to grips with these truths, the Christian recognizes he must, of necessity, pray a warrior’s prayer…
Over His Mind
For he recognizes that war against his thoughts (Rom.7:23). He knows his mind is a battlefield, and that he must guard it diligently with the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph.6:17) He does so by praying God’s truth over his own thoughts. He desires for “this mind be in him, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Php 2:5) He upholds the written truth that God has given him a “sound mind”. (2Tim.1:7) Furthermore, he rejoices over the fact that he is continually being “renewed in the spirit of his mind.” (Eph 4:23) He believes the encouraging promise of God that the Lord will “wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him: because he trusteth in Him.” (Isa 26:3) Even his very dreams does he cover with prayer, claiming God’s promise to grant him sweet sleep in the night. (Pr.3:24)
Over His Body
Jesus took to His own body the sicknesses and diseases of the redeemed. (Isa.53:5; 1Pet.2:24) Standing on the finished work of Christ the man of prayer realizes that by the brutal whippings of Jesus he was healed: (1Pet.2:24) body, soul and spirit. Though one’s body may yet ache, the mercy of God delivers the Believer out of sickness into divine healing, and a way of life that restores and maintains health. (cf. Deut.11:15; 12:16; 14:3-20)
Over His Spouse
The Christian warrior–man or woman–keeps their marriage covered in prayer. For they are “heirs together of the grace of life” (1Pet.3:7). It’s a holy bond that the devil, the world and their own carnality, wants to destroy. The faithful warrior, therefore, fights to preserve and defend his marriage from all attack. The husband, the wife, must heartily stretch forth unto God on behalf of their spouse, that He will grant them peace and strength. This warrior’s prayer is one of thanks for their marriage. It desires diligently to preserve and enhance the marriage covenant that God has given them both.
Over His Children
The Christian mother and father realizes they must fight for their children’s complete safety and protection. They pray their children are both nurtured by the Lord and drawn to Him. Because Children are God’s heritage. (Ps 127:3) Yet Satan and this fallen world wants them destroyed. The warrior’s prayer, through the covenant of God, and the redemptive Blood of Jesus Christ, throws down a divine barrier, a hedge of protection around their children that no devil from hell can tear down. The spiritual warrior knows from the heart of God, that, “of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:14) and that “…whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Mt 18:6)
Over His Needs
Everyday stress and difficulty falls on the Believer as it does anyone else. Yet Godly warriors meet each challenge head-on, with faith in God’s provision. These warriors stand resolute on the promise that God will supply all of their need through Christ Jesus. (Php.4:19). They know that “…the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Ps 84:11) The footing of their prayer is on the solid Rock that, “…God is able to make all grace abound toward them; that they, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2Co 9:8) In their many times of need the Christian warrior does not melt down into fear, but stands firm in their faith in God’s unchangeable promise.
Over the Unsaved
Knowing these days are short, the Christian warrior seeks for lost souls through their prayers and intercessions. They understand the Lord’s desire, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1Ti 2:4) Therefore they call out to God that the lost might know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. They look for God’s mercy for sinners. For they know, all too well, that Satan has “…blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Co 4:4) The love of the saint obliges him to God who saved him to also, “…give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Co4:6) to others in spiritual darkness. It’s a fight of faith and true love to snatch a soul from hell.
Over his Country
The prophet Daniel wrestled in prayer many days over his people and nation. (Dan.10:10-13) Likewise, the Christian warrior must wrestle for the soul of his own country. The fiercest battles, through the pathways of prayer and fasting, are done for one’s own nation. Linking together with other Believers, the spiritual warrior fights to uphold God’s Word with “…supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks… for all men;” (1Ti 2:1). This is for God’s will be done in their city, their state and their nation.
A warrior’s prayer is never over. It may pause for a while, here and there, but it never ends.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1Th 5:17)
Such spiritual warfare will not be over until Christ returns. This is why we are charged daily to continue “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” (Eph 6:18)
Godly warriors don’t quit. They can’t! The needs are just too many. By faith, and through faith, the Godly warrior must remain faithful to prayer… at all times.
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