Lord, I pray that you please help my twin sister brittney as she ministers, that you may deliver me from all persecution and help me according to your mercy. For I have been backstabbed. Ask the Lord to help me fast and seek His face. I need protection and shelter, for protection me and family from those who persecute and backstab me.
We are in a spiritual warfare whether we know it or not. And if we don't know or want to acknowledge the reality of spiritual warfare, there is a strong chance we are losing!
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." ~ Ephesians 6:12
Everyone is in a spiritual battle of some sort on a daily basis. In warfare, battles are fought on different fronts, for different reasons, and with varying intensity. The same is true in spiritual warfare. Our spiritual battles and warfare are real, even though we cannot physically see the attacker. There are forces, both angelic and demonic, that are actively working around us. There is evil that we fight in our spiritual warfare. Jesus told us to pray for Godβs will to be done on earth as in heaven. He told us that the gates of hell will not prevail against the work God has purposed for us to accomplish, as His will is being worked out in our lives.
We must understand that the battle is not against flesh and blood but against powers in the heavenly places. As we realize this reality and engage in spiritual warfare, we will begin to understand how the enemy moves against us in the physical realm. The battles of spiritual warfare are intense when a person accepts Jesus as their Savior. The enemy will attack from all angles, hoping to dissuade the person from fully giving their heart to Jesus. He will use circumstances, events, people, things, and even doubt in their minds to steal their hearts back to his ways. These battles are fought in the world but involve the spiritual forces of darkness in the invisible realm around us.
A Prayer for Spiritual Warfare
Jesus, sometimes I can almost sense the heaviness of pressure mounting and the ominous presence of darkness around me. I recognize my enemy is at work again. Whether he's trying to discourage me to get sidetracked, to fall into temptation, to give up, or to take my eyes off you, he's always hanging around. I need your supernatural power, Lord, to stand strong and not surrender. Physical force won't help, because you've said the weapons of our warfare are different from those in this world. As believers, ours are powerful and can demolish strongholds and lies. These supernatural weapons originate from you. By your precious name and blood, Jesus, I'm asking you to confuse Satan and cancel his attempts to shut me and my influence down. Help me not to become discouraged or to give in when heavy times of testing come. When I'm tired and weak, you are strong, Lord, and you are my only source of help. I cannot fight without you. Teach me how to pray and to trust you to pull down those strongholds that keep me or others helpless. Guard me from the isolation that leaves me exposed and vulnerable. I believe you destroyed the power of my enemy by your death and resurrection. But like a bad penny, my enemy keeps showing up, whispering lies, twisting the truth, and attempting to inflate my selfish pride. He never gives up. I am declaring the devil and his demons' liars today, Lord. Through the power of your precious name and blood, I agree with your Word and the truth that you are in me and that you are greater than my enemy who wants to rule the world. You, your Word, and prayer, Lord, are my secret weapons. I belong to you, and that fills me with a powerful God-confidence. I want to constantly dress in the spiritual armor you give me. Help me use it to defend others from Satan's fiery darts as well. No one and nothing can snatch me away from your hand. Strengthen my faith, Lord. Forgive my sins, so that I may be clean in your righteousness. Make me brave, so I can stand and fight the spiritual battles in my life and in our world. Give me your wisdom and discernment so I won't be caught off guard. Together, Lord, we'll win, because in truth, you already have.
In Jesus's powerful name before which every knee shall bow, In Jesus' name Amen!
A Prayer to Offer Your Broken Heart to God
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. β Psalm 51:17
Dear God, I need you. My heart is a mess of shattered pieces and I donβt know how to find hope. I know my sadness isnβt your desire, but the pain is so real. It hurts so deeply. God, I sometimes wonder if thereβs something wrong with me. I feel desperate to shield my heart from pain, and people, and everything. I hold it tightly, sinking into my tears, and forgetting that you are stronger than any storm. Help me, God, to release my shame and grief freely to you. Help me invite you in. Iβve been so damaged by wounds inflicted, Iβm afraid my heart is beyond repair. I come to you today, God, still afraid, still wondering...but willing to show you my heart. Will you hold it? Will you please pour your peace into the open cuts? Cover me with your presence, remind me you are near. Show me love.
God, give me the strength I donβt have, to hope that you will turn this broken heart into a beautiful new tomorrow that will lift me out of where I am right now. Carry this broken heart until you remake it, into a miracle that glorifies your lovingkindness. In Jesus' name Amen
Whether you are seeking forgiveness for yourself or asking God to help you forgive someone else, prayer is the first place to start when seeking restoration and healing. Forgiving someone who has hurt you is never easy and we often end up causing ourselves more pain and heartache by carrying the bitterness of unforgiveness. The below prayers for forgiveness can help guide your thoughts and words towards peace and strength. It is a big step to seek out forgiveness and you have taken a bold step in faith!
We all need forgiveness in life. It's much easier to show forgiveness to others when we recognize our own need first. Colossians 3:13 tells us to "forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." May these short prayers help you as you seek forgiveness in a relationship or are struggling to forgive yourself.
A Prayer to Help You Forgive Others
Father, only you understand how much Iβve been hurt by this person. I donβt want to carry the pain for another second. I donβt want to be a bitter person. But I need your grace and the power of the cross to release my hurt and to forgive those whoβve hurt me. This is the turning point. First, I need to experience your forgiveness. You know all the ways Iβve hurt others, and Iβm so sorry for my sins. Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I accept your grace and forgiveness, and I need it daily. Today Iβm turning to you, and Iβm choosing to forgive the way you have forgiven me. Every time the memory comes back, Iβll forgive that person again until the pain is gone. Heal my heart with your grace. In Jesusβ name. Amen.