There is power in prayer. We do live in the world where we can’t see everything that is going in our lives and the lives of others. The spiritual realm has battles going on that we are not aware of.
Many of us couldn’t handle seeing this even if we have that gift. We need to use what we against the enemy and all enemies. Remember the prayer of Jabaz? “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”
Prayer binds Satan and can pierce darkness along with using our faith. Jesus Christ took the enemy and destroyed him at Calvary—meaning we have the power through prayer to fight and prayer for protection.
Jesus proclaimed:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy–nothing will harm you.”
God will keep you from harm. He is our rock and fortress from our enemies.
Pray scriptures over your life and for others. You will find them after each prayer.
“My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies (2 Samuel 22:3-4).”
Here are prayers you can use against your enemies and key scriptures to also help you:
“I come against all darkness, hate, uneasiness with the power of God’s word. I stand on the authority of Jesus Christ his victory of you at Calvary. You will not defeat me for I am in Christ and I am protected. I claim favor over the darkness used by people or in the spirit world.”
Scripture: A reminder for you in the Psalms to help you: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.”
“I bind all negative powers and influences today. You have no authority over me or the household. I speak confusion into Satan’s assignments.”
Scripture: Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”
“Forgive me and clean me Jesus Christ. I command all demons must cease in the Name of Jesus! I pray a covering over the church, the community, the world, and my family.”
Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever.”
“I come against all those spirits trying to confuse me and hurt my mind or body. I am a child of the highest God. I have the garment of praise today. Nothing can hurt me. My boss, people, creditors, the spirit of intimidation or the spirit of fear can’t harm me. I am more than a victor in Jesus. I rebuke these distractions and walk in the love of Christ.”
Scripture: Psalm 121:7-8: “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
The prayer of David is another prayer you can use for protection against enemies. “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies triumph over me.”
“Father, I pray for protection at night and during the day. Lead me to righteousness, and strengthen me.”
Scripture: In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 we read that we don’t have to be crushed despite being persecuted. Persecution is not just from people, but from the devil. “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
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In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells His disciples that they should “pray for those who persecute you.” This is timely instruction for our nation especially during these turbulent times, but, have you ever wondered what praying for your enemies does? After all they don’t see or hear the prayer so how can it affect them?
The wonderful thing about prayer is that you don’t have to witness it or even believe in it for it to affect you. This should be encouraging for us when we have to deal with an “enemy” and help us pray for them because:
1. You’re Not Defeated Just Because Your Foe is an Unbeliever.
Of course this assumes that your enemy is an unbeliever. In my experience I have found it easier to forgive and pray for those who don’t believe because I’m not expecting them to act like believers in the first place.
Those whose lives are not consciously led by the Lord shouldn’t be expected to act like Christians because they don’t believe. This is why I find it easier to offer them forgiveness. Most times they don’t know what they are doing, who they are doing it to and the consequences they face from an avenging God. I get why Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
The offense that really hurts is the one committed by a believer in Christ. Many times your worst enemy is in the church, singing alongside you or serving you the communion. It’s easy to pray for someone who is lost, doesn’t know, refuses spiritual things. You can feel sorry for this person and more easily forgive them because they are offending in ignorance. But how to forgive a brother who shares the faith and worships alongside you?
Even for this brother in this situation, prayer is the answer and the power required to heal because the One who answers prayer is the Lord of both you and your enemy, believer or non-believer.
2. The Prayer of a Righteous Person can Avail Much.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
– James 5:16
Only a believer can effectively offer a prayer to God. I am often saddened at the thought of how much energy is expended throughout the world every day and night by sincere people who are praying to entities, ancestors and beings that are not God and have no power to hear, let alone answer prayer.
This knowledge alone should spur us on to pray fervently not only for our enemies but also that God send out workers to proclaim the good news of the only true God, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As far as our personal enemies are concerned, we need to pray for them because no one else may be praying for them.
3. All Things do Work for Good and God’s Purpose.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
– Romans 8:28
Even those who consciously work against God are ultimately in His service and our prayers put them there. The only difference is that they will serve unknowingly and will receive no reward for their effort.
There’s no reason to feel helpless when confronted with our various enemies in this life because God has clearly instructed us in what to do in order to defeat them. Love them so that their attack becomes unwarranted and worthy of judgment; pray for them so that God will work directly in their lives either to limit their attack or win them over to faith and fellowship. Either way prayer is the key to victory.
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Pray for my enemies? My first reaction is, “Ugh, no thanks, I’d rather not.” My second reaction: Heck, I don’t have any enemies. Everybody likes me.
I had been deluding myself with this pleasant fantasy until the other day when I saw someone walking on the other side of the street, far away enough that he didn’t seem to see me, a man I had considered very much an enemy. I had once wished him dead and no doubt the feeling was mutual.
It all came back to me quite vividly, that period I had vilified him. I imagined all sorts of terrible things happening to him—being struck down by a stroke or making a fatal trip to the ER. Not kind thoughts, mind you, but that’s what happens when you become consumed by having an enemy. The enemy takes over a big chunk of your emotional real estate, you imagination, your peace of mind, your soul.
My only way out was to do what Jesus said and what I had been avoiding all along. “You have heard it said, you must love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44).
Quite frankly, I was glad Jesus didn’t say “like.” Liking my enemy would have been impossible, but loving I could work at and loving meant I had to pray for him. The two seem to work hand-in-hand in Jesus’ command. Praying for your enemies forces you to think about who they are and why they behave the way they do. You acquire, almost against your will, compassion for them, and compassion is not only the object of prayer but its best reward.
I began to see why Jesus would ask us to do something this hard. It’s good for our mental health. It defines prayer as something that stretches us beyond our comfortable confines. Loving enemies is crucial to making his “kingdom come.” I think Jesus’ command is one of the greatest lessons in prayer. To love your enemies is to pray for them and to pray for them is to love them. It’s an essential tool to developing a compassionate heart.
No, when I saw my former enemy across the street I didn’t rush over to embrace him, but he was normal, just another human being, not some monster of my imagining. That seemed a victory and a relief.
Got an enemy? Give thanks for them. They’re going to help you grow spiritually. You don’t have to like them. To love them is enough.
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