Too often I forget that we are engaging in a high stakes battle everyday. I attribute difficulties and struggles to the fact that when you work in the public arena that sometimes things just aren't easy (which they aren't). What I should remember more often is that many of the hardships we go through and resistance that we face comes straight from the enemy. He is actively working against us ('The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy..." John 10:10) and won't hesitate to use everything he has to undermine and discourage us.
What we also need to remember is that we too can fight with intensity. God has given us the weapon of prayer-not to use against each other (as some churches & Christians do), but to use as an unstoppable weapon against satan. For us to see true success the way God has it planned we need to ramp up the intensity. We need to start praying with a passionate fervor for the souls of our friends and families. We need to pray hard for God to bring favor to our missionaries. We need to pray to the point of exhaustion for the Holy Spirit to be unleashed on God's church in such a mighty way that the world has no doubt that the King is still on His throne.
When we aggressively seek God and His power we find ourselves propped up by His power and ready to fight for His people and to follow His will.
"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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13
Thanks Pastor Craig....I needed this....for I have become too "lazy" in my prayer life. I guess it becomes easy to sit back and think that others will do it....that my effort really isn't needed....when it fact EVERY effort is needed.
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