In the weeks ahead, many of you will hear an incomplete version of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. You’ll hear of the virgin birth in a Bethlehem stable, a legion of angels praising God, shepherds, and wise men.
You won’t hear about Jesus being born into a story of intense spiritual warfare where Herod wants to kill him or, when Herod is thwarted, how he responded in rage and slaughtered the male infants in Bethlehem 2 years of age and under.
Many of our modern churches leave spiritual warfare out of their stories. It doesn’t make for a pleasant Christmas Eve service when everyone is singing “Silent Night, Holy Night” and holding candles.
Now through January is the time of the year when we see spiritual warfare ratchet up against God’s people, especially marriages. Our enemy doesn’t call a truce while we’re celebrating the holidays. If anything, he knows this is a time when many drop their guard. Add in the sorrow that surfaces from old wounds, the loneliness the season can provoke, family get-togethers when strife is easily sparked, and he has a target rich environment. Who’s got time to pray when there’s so much to do, so many gifts to buy?
Exactly, says Screwtape.
The Monday after Thanksgiving and December 27 are the top two days of the year when porn is viewed tells us the enemy attacks when the post-holiday crash comes. The surge of people looking for help in January bears this out when “Peace on earth and good will towards men” gives way to the reality of credit card bills and cold winter months.
Geez Genung, what a downer you are.
Well, no, not if we understand that the church’s mission is to make disciples, which includes helping them navigate the pitfalls of life and the spiritual warfare coming against them. You most likely won’t hear most of this on Sunday morning or an Advent Service. Or ever.
This morning I was at a grocery store. As I walked the aisles, a dark cloud of depression descended on my mind, instantly crashing my mood. After several moments of confusion, I said something similar to the following, softly:
“In Jesus’ name, I renounce depression.” The cloud of depression instantly vanished.
To help you in the battles ahead, the following are prayers that include themes of warfare, healing, and restoration.
For the wife whose husband is ensnared to sexual sin and is struggling with fear.
“Father, I surrender my husband to you, including all of his sin and mistakes. I refuse to attempt to control him; You are the Lord of my husband’s life. In Jesus’ name I renounce fear and anxiety. I am not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind. I renounce every time I might have given ground to fear, anxiety, or bitterness. I am God’s daughter. Lord, please grant me wisdom and discernment and show me how You want me to partner up with You in Your work in my husband’s life. Please heal him and set him free. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and heal the places where I’ve been hurt. I invite you into every part of my heart to do as You please.”
For the man or woman in bondage to sexual sin.
“Father, I bring all of my lust and sexual sin to the cross. I renounce all involvement and every agreement I’ve made with lust, porn, masturbation, or any other type of sexual sin, or anything connected with it, at any time. Father, please crucify my flesh today with all of its lust, pride and selfishness, and help me to walk in the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Please cleanse my heart completely from all of my sin. Thank You that I am Your son. My identity has nothing to do with my sin. Strengthen me now in the truth of who I am in Your eyes. Please give me wisdom on what You want me to do today to recover (such as groups, counseling, etc) and join You in Your work to heal my spouse’s heart. I surrender their heart into Your hands. I invite You into every area of my heart to heal and restore.”
A morning prayer for putting on the armor of God (see Ephesians 6).
“I pray on the helmet of salvation. May it protect my mind today. I pray on the breastplate of Your righteousness. May You protect my body, will, and emotions. I pray on the belt of truth. May You strength me in Your truth today. Please bring Your word to my mind throughout the day. I pray on the shoes of the gospel of peace. May I walk with You in Your peace today. I take up the shield of faith in a mighty God who easily crushes my enemies, and the sword of the spirit, God’s word.”
For those who have struggled with fear.
“Father, I confess that I have struggled with the fear of… (name the specific fears). I confess all these fears as sin and bring them to the cross. I renounce every agreement I have made with fear. Please cover me now with Your precious blood, Jesus, and heal my heart from the damage fear has done. Please grant me Your overcoming strength to stand in the truth and stand against fear. Thank You that I am not given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind. May Your perfect love continue to cast out all fear in my life.”
Sometimes, depending on what I’m getting hit with, I’ll pray along the following lines:
“In Jesus’ name I pray the blood of Christ, the peace of God, the rest of God, the strength of God, the love of God, over my mind, body, will, and emotions. Lord, please cleanse, wash, strength, and heal me now.”
I ask God for wisdom, discernment, and understanding often.
I pray for strength often. During moments of physical or mental weakness I’ll pray:
“God, thank You that have promised that You will strengthen me. You are with me, You will never leave me nor forsake me. I’m not alone. Please strengthen me now and shut down all work of the enemy against me.”
This prayer is based on God’s promises in Isaiah 41:10:
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
There are many other verses in the Bible where God offers us strength and invites us to ask for it.
I ask God to “order my way,” including my prayers, often. It’s way too easy to go off the rails and start living life our way from our agenda, which can lead to big mistakes.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 80 is a great Psalm to pray for restoration. The NASB1995 version of Psalm 119 is another great Psalm to pray for revival and restoration.
Do you see how Rogue this is compared to what we usually hear this time of the year?
Celebrate and enjoy the Christmas season, yet, remember that you are at war.
Stay strong in prayer and don’t allow the holidays to choke your walk with God.
Crazy how some get so busy with doing that they miss the One the holidays—and all of life—are about.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:8-11