The Call to Stand—Be Strong in the LORD!

Devotional Reading—September 10, 2023

“Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17

Today, I agonized in prayer all day into the evening regarding a powerful stronghold—I was fixated on thoughts for two days that I knew would cause me to lose eternal life. Yet, I could not stop the anger from thinking about the situation. Although I have read many Scriptures on continuous praying, I have never prayed like this before. But, I desperately needed God’s help!

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:15, 17-18

If I did not continue to persevere in prayer, I would have failed to gain spiritual victory. I kept praying! Finally, around 7 p.m., I received deliverance and the command to let go and move forward in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Now, I am able to understand from a spiritual perspective why God allowed the incident to happen.

The peace that I feel is from the Holy Spirit breathing into my soul. Yes, it feels as if a mighty, rushing wind of Divine peace and strength went through my mind, body, and soul. We should never limit the times that we pray! Prayer invites the presence of God into our minds, hearts, and souls. One thing is for sure, we will always experience change, and gain spiritual insight, and the victory from staying in God’s presence.

Reflection: What is the lifestyle, habit, or relationship that is preventing you from fully devoting yourself to God?

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

We are rapidly moving forward in the last days of Earth’s history. Jesus is coming soon!

To make it through this journey of life and stay on the Path of Righteousness, we need to stay connected to the Source, Jesus Christ. We are told to boldly come to the throne of grace in prayer. We need Help! There are no surprises regarding the spiritual warfare the Christian believer will face in these perilous times. We cannot stay on the narrow Path without the Holy Spirit’s constant intervention which is only available through our prayers of surrender.

Jesus’ Warning: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

The Reason for Our Spiritual Warfare: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” —John 14:27

We Are Fighting Against Satan, a Fallen Angel: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8

Like a lion in the African Savannah stalking his prey and using stealth moves hidden behind the tall grass or bushes, Satan has increased his warfare against the Saints of the Most-High God.

“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” —Revelation 12:12

Yes, Satan knows that his time is running out. Through observation of our habits, spoken words, and the people we hang out with, he uses our heart’s desires to easily deceive us. Many believers who were once strong in the Lord, are separated from God because they followed the whims of their hearts.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” —Matthew 24:7

With the increase in natural disasters, the events of Matthew chapter 24 are rapidly being fulfilled. Live with a spiritual sense of urgency and the determination to possess faithful obedience to God. Pray diligently before making [all] decisions! The outcome is only guaranteed when God is involved.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 7:21

Pray before you invite anyone into your social circle. Not everyone who believes in God serves God. And there are many individuals who are comfortable living on this earth who never think about eternal life.

Put on the Whole Armor of God—Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…Ephesians 6:10-18

The Apostle Paul invites believers once they are fully armed to do what ancient Israel did before they engaged in battle against their enemies—and that is, to Pray! The time is now for us to pray specific prayers to overcome our weaknesses, habits, and unrighteous character traits. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us wisdom, spiritual discernment of the truth, and the spiritual strength to live as victorious overcomers. Yet, we must pray and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ.

Jesus’ Promise: “To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” —Revelation 3:21-22

Prayer: God, we pray for those who need Your help in overcoming the habits, relationships, thoughts, and desires that keep them from fully surrendering to You in faithful obedience. Many times, our victory is only a prayer away, yet, we fail to call on You for the strength to overcome. Lord, help us to realize that our lives are not our own and You are coming soon. We pray for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit and the humility to do Your will. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries