The attacks of the enemy have intensified, so our prayers have intensified.”
That’s a direct quote from someone who regularly attends prayer nights at the church. Once we ended, she shared a story, or a testimony really, of how the Lord has strengthened her against the enemy lately.
Just think about what she said, and answer this question:
When the attacks of the enemy intensify in your life, what comes after the word “so”?
I’ll tell you right now, what comes after “so” for me isn’t always “my prayers intensified.” Too often it’s more like, “so… I crumbled,” “so… I walked away,” “so… I lost my temper,” “so… I walked in that discouragement for weeks.”
I imagine that may ring true for many of us at different times.
Look at the world. Look at our nation. I’m not talking politically, I’m talking spiritually. Look at the chaos of it all. Are we not watching this Scripture come to life in so many ways, even outside of our own lives?
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
But, look at what immediately follows:
“Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:9
How do we resist the enemy, personally? James 4:7 lays it out for us:
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
How do we humble ourselves before God?
Well, that begins with prayer. It is within prayer that our hearts are humbled before and submitted to the Lord, and it is living in that state that allows us to resist the schemes of the enemy.
The reality is, the end is only drawing closer as the days go by. That means the enemy’s attacks are, and will continue to intensify as he tries to render ineffective those serving the Lord.
And that means, we need to make up our minds about what is going to follow the word “so” in this sentence,
“The attacks of the enemy have intensified, so …”
Our only hope in standing firm as the attacks of the enemy intensify is to have our prayers intensify, too. Not a single one of us is standing firm against the enemy without drawing on the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit, and that begins with prayer.
Personal prayer. Prayer with our spouse. Prayer with our kids. Prayer within our ministries. Prayer with coworkers. And, as the enemy continues to attack the church at large, corporate prayer.
Let us not crumble. Let us not walk away from our calling. Let us not quit in anger or confusion. Let us not live in the lies of the enemy as his attacks intensify in our lives.
Let it be that we all get to the end of our day and say,
“The attacks of the enemy have intensified, so my prayers have intensified, too.”
I firmly believe that it’s when we can honestly stand in that truth that we are the strongest we can be, because it’s then that the Spirit is strongest within us.
And let me also say this – the presence of the Spirit was simply unmistakable at prayer night last weekend. If you have not attended a prayer night, you’re missing a front row seat to watch the Lord move in mighty ways.
~ Alyssa