Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

COMMENTS

Anyone who has spent time in the military understands the need for a good battle plan. Without it, the chances of success are slim, and many lives are lost, either dead or captured by the enemy.

Christians, we too must have a daily battle plan. Our enemy may not be found on a map, along strategic lines of defense, but he is no less dangerous a foe. I am, of course, referring to Satan and his minions. 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP) tells us Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

Let me be clear, Satan can not do anything directly against God’s elect children without God’s permission. However, Satan can and does use the millions of unbelievers we meet daily, see daily on TV, and hear daily on the radio/podcast to tempt us away from biblical truths, weakening our faith.

What is the best battle plan against the wiles of this most cunning foe, PRAYER! Anyone who thinks they can fight the good fight alone is fooling themselves. As we see in the devotion below, humble, “true” prayers are always welcome in heaven and help us overcome Satan’s schemes.

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DEVOTION

Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed, but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy’s hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succours can come down to us by Jacob’s ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. Prayer is never out of season: in summer and in winter its merchandise is precious. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from his holy place. Nor is prayer ever futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not answer his children according to the letter, he does so according to the spirit. If thou askest for coarse meal, wilt thou be angered because he gives thee the finest flour? If thou seekest bodily health, shouldst thou complain if instead thereof he makes thy sickness turn to the healing of spiritual maladies? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? This evening, my soul, forget not to offer thy petition and request, for the Lord is ready to grant thee thy desires.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).