We have looked at 2 of 4 practical ways to guarantee that you can extinguish every flaming weapon of Satan: 1) Think faith, and 2) Speak faith. Today, let's look at the third way to "hold up the shield of faith, to stop the fiery arrows of the devil" (Ephesians 6:16).
To extinguish every dart, you must pray faith. Prayer is powerful, so powerful that when coupled with faith and a true relationship with Jesus, we have the promise of John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you."
If you want to be able to stop the enemy's fiery darts of doubt, discouragement, and depression, you must pray in faith, for strength and to call upon the power of Almighty God. The prayer of faith can heal the sick (James 5:15), raise the dead (Acts 9:40), and open prison doors (Acts 16:25-26). When you pray God's Word and pray in the Name of Jesus, there is nothing Satan can do to harm you (I Peter 3:12-13; Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19).
In my quiet time, I was reading through the Book of Exodus. One day, I read Exodus chapter 20, and as I read about the 10 Commandments, I paused at verse 7, "You shall not take the Name of the LORD your God in vain." Now, I know that means that we should not use God's Name in a flippant manner (i.e., say, "Oh, my God") or in a derogatory manner (i.e., say His Name as a swear word), but I just felt there was something more to taking His Name "in vain."
I went to Him in prayer, to ask God what He meant. I prayed, "Father, what do You mean when You say we should not take Your Name in vain?" As I got quiet before Him, to listen for that "still, small voice," I "heard" Him say, "When my children pray in My Name but do not believe I will answer, they take My Name in vain."
Whether you're praying for help in any area of life or praying for power to tackle the enemy, if you do not believe that God will come through for you, your prayer will fall on deaf ears. Oh, but when you pray in faith, God says, "When [you] call on Me, I will answer; I will be with [you] in trouble. I will rescue and honor [you]" (Psalm 91:15).
Matthew 21:22 [Amplified]
"And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive."
What this has to do with weight loss: When the enemy comes at you, throwing darts of doubt, discouragement, and depression about your ability to release excess weight and keep it off, you can pray for a different outcome. However, you must pray in faith, believing, to receive.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I thank You for the power of prayer. I thank You that when I call upon You in faith that You hear me and will answer me. May I never pray in Your Name but doubt that You will come through for me. May my prayers be strengthened by the power of Your Word, as I pray a promise or a precedence from Your Word, and may every dart of the devil be deflected by my prayers of faith. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, praying powerful prayers of faith, to defeat the enemy's intentional darts of doubt, discouragement, and depression.
Showing posts with label Mark 16:17-18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark 16:17-18. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #44 [F.I.R.S.T. Place, Part V]
Previously, we looked at 4 of the 5 areas of life (finances, interests, relationships, and schedule), to see, individually, if God has first place in your life. Today, we'll look at the fifth and final area.
Troubles (the T in F.I.R.S.T.)--Think about your troubles, that which troubles you. Do those troubles defeat you? Do they cause you to moan and groan or even to be angry at God because you're going through them? Are you handling your troubles, or are your troubles handling you? Do you search the Word for scripture about your troubling area, so you know what God's Word says about it? Do you search out the promises contained in the Word, and are you doing your part so God can do His part? Finally, are you patient in waiting for God to move in your circumstances, living by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7)? Do you understand the authority given to you as a believer (Mark 16:17-18) and, if so, do you put on and use the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), speak the Name of Jesus and tell Satan to "Move on!"?
We live in a fallen world, so we will experience troubling situations, but we can and must believe the Lord when He said, "...be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, Amplified). You are an overcomer, because you have The Overcomer within you. Think like it, talk like it, and walk like it. If you need wisdom in a situation, go to God and ask for it, and He will give it to you (James 1:5). Is God first in your troubles?
II Corinthians 4:8-9 [NIV]
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed... For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
What this has to do with weight loss: I have wept over some of the posts I've read on ObesityHelp.com, by precious people who are going through terrible complications post-weight loss surgery. I've marveled at their courage, even their ability to just get up every morning. Those who know the Lord shine, even during their darkest days. They are able to give encouragement to others, despite knowing discouragement themselves. They live the saying, "Hope springs eternal," and it's a joy to rejoice with them when their troubles are over.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, there are days when I feel beset on every side by troubles. Sometimes those troubles threaten to crush me, but that's when I look up to You, The Overcomer. Thank You for Your Word that prepares me for the inevitability of troubles, yet does not leave me without help and hope. Thank You that no matter what I face, You are right here beside me, comforting and encouraging me. May I look to Your Word, in all my troubles, for the pathway through every trouble, and may I take advantage of every promise in Your Word connected to each trouble I experience, so my time in the valley may be short. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, putting God first in your troubles.
In times of uncertainty and trouble, listen to the Psalms from the cd Psalms for Surgery. More information available at http://www.cdeanhall.com/products.html.
Troubles (the T in F.I.R.S.T.)--Think about your troubles, that which troubles you. Do those troubles defeat you? Do they cause you to moan and groan or even to be angry at God because you're going through them? Are you handling your troubles, or are your troubles handling you? Do you search the Word for scripture about your troubling area, so you know what God's Word says about it? Do you search out the promises contained in the Word, and are you doing your part so God can do His part? Finally, are you patient in waiting for God to move in your circumstances, living by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7)? Do you understand the authority given to you as a believer (Mark 16:17-18) and, if so, do you put on and use the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), speak the Name of Jesus and tell Satan to "Move on!"?
We live in a fallen world, so we will experience troubling situations, but we can and must believe the Lord when He said, "...be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, Amplified). You are an overcomer, because you have The Overcomer within you. Think like it, talk like it, and walk like it. If you need wisdom in a situation, go to God and ask for it, and He will give it to you (James 1:5). Is God first in your troubles?
II Corinthians 4:8-9 [NIV]
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed... For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
What this has to do with weight loss: I have wept over some of the posts I've read on ObesityHelp.com, by precious people who are going through terrible complications post-weight loss surgery. I've marveled at their courage, even their ability to just get up every morning. Those who know the Lord shine, even during their darkest days. They are able to give encouragement to others, despite knowing discouragement themselves. They live the saying, "Hope springs eternal," and it's a joy to rejoice with them when their troubles are over.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, there are days when I feel beset on every side by troubles. Sometimes those troubles threaten to crush me, but that's when I look up to You, The Overcomer. Thank You for Your Word that prepares me for the inevitability of troubles, yet does not leave me without help and hope. Thank You that no matter what I face, You are right here beside me, comforting and encouraging me. May I look to Your Word, in all my troubles, for the pathway through every trouble, and may I take advantage of every promise in Your Word connected to each trouble I experience, so my time in the valley may be short. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, putting God first in your troubles.
In times of uncertainty and trouble, listen to the Psalms from the cd Psalms for Surgery. More information available at http://www.cdeanhall.com/products.html.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
