Countering Attacks

A friend of mine and I have decided to spend every (or as many as possible) night of Lent praying for one specific thing. That one thing is a relationship. A relationship that has been torn, but that we are longing for restoration for. So, we spend some time throughout the day and pray about what we're going to pray about that night...

It's been really cool to see what God has impressed upon each of our hearts to pray for that specific night. Some things are specific to that relationship, and some things are more general and are for all relationships, but nonetheless we're praying. One night we might pray to see fruit in that person, another night we might pray for their protection. And another night we might pray for that person's future. It has been really cool to see where God is working in me just because I'm devoting some time to praying for someone else.

Job 42:10 says: "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before."

Job went to hell and back again and would not deny the Lord. He lost everything he had... his family, his friends, his livelihood, his wealth, and in the midst of it all praised God.

So, I can pray. I can spend a few minutes each night in agreement with another person and pray. To pray for my friends.

Interestingly enough, one night we prayed for conviction. We prayed that God would convict our hearts in the places we needed to right wrongs, and we prayed the same thing for this other relationship. But praying for conviction can, at times, feel like an attack.

I know we have all felt like we are under attack at times. I am starting to learn that being "under spiritual attack" is a good thing. Please don't hear me say that everything should be one challenge after another, or that I welcome said attacks, but that if Satan is willing to attack me, I must be doing something to advance the Kingdom of God that he does not like. Right? If I am no threat at all, why would he waste his time on me? But if I am a threat to the kingdom of darkness because a Kingdom of Light lives in me, then I open myself up for spiritual attack.

The good news is that we have all the things we need for any type of attack. We have a full armor of God that we should put on everyday. It will shield us from whatever the devil throws at us. (see Ephesians 6). I forget on a regular basis that I will need the shoes of peace, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith and the sword of the spirit.

A world of chaos and calamity awaits us every day. I get out of the bed because I am already equipped to face it, and win.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jesus) John 16:33.