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| The devil knows where we are weak and most likely to be tempted. Sometimes it doesn't take long before we are physically or mentally caught up in the presence of what is not God's intent for us. |
What to Pray When You’re in Spiritual
Danger
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in
heaven!”
We have all made this declaration
thousands of times, and yet, there are so many insidious ways that the enemy of
our souls finds to take our hearts off of God's heavenly will for His kingdom
on Earth.
When I first married my husband,
I was so grateful to God to the point that I unintentionally allowed Dave to
become an idol in my life. This is, I believe, not an unusual occurrence when
people are deeply in love with one another; however, it never occurred to me
that this had become so until my husband pointed it out one day.
With great humility he sat me
down and explained that I was putting way too much spiritual expectation on his
meeting my needs and had begun to make my relationship with him more of a focus
than my relationship with God. As he opened my eyes to this very glaring fact,
I knew it instantly to be true.
My love for Dave had superseded
my passion for the presence of God. I was becoming more and more content in
depending upon my husband to meet every need and fulfill every desire and to
give me guidance and counsel.
Some of this dependence is not
inherently bad, but it was growing to a point of becoming spiritually dangerous
for me, as well as for my husband. Dave was, of course, flattered and happy to
be my "everything," but he began to see a lessening in how his wife
was pursuing the presence of Christ in all things.
How blessed I am to have married
this man, for he was unpretentious enough to guide me back to the One my heart
should always be fully captivated by. My kingdom life and work could have been
damaged and/or delayed by the enemy's attempt to distract me, even with
something as wonderful as my new spouse!
The devil is devious and
underhanded to do such a thing, but he is so successful at it that many
Christians, myself included, can easily fall prey to it.
Perhaps your distraction is not a
person, but might be technology, a hobby or the busyness of your life doing
good and valuable kingdom things. The devil knows where we are weak and most
likely to be tempted.
Sometimes it doesn't take long
before we are physically or mentally caught up in the presence of what is not
God's intent for us. The key is to recognize when this is beginning to happen
to us and to find victory. For some of us, it will mean a greater effort, for
we have already become addicted or distracted.
We must help one another and
encourage each other to be faithfully yoked to Jesus over all other
distractions (even those that seem to be kingdom-focused).
That said, how can we pray for
God's best kingdom life each day? Here are several to get you started:
“Father, help me to have a repentant heart for all the times I
have placed others and other things above or before You! Give me a deeper
desire to soak in Your perfect presence so that I will want nothing more than I
want You! Forgive me for my inattentiveness and neglect. Forgive me for my
wandering heart and thoughts. Forgive me for straying from Your kingdom in
favor of my own!
“Grace-filled God, help me to keep my eyes fixed upon Your face
and my ears listening for Your voice today. Help me not to waver to the right
or to the left but to walk in the way You guide me for Your kingdom's sake.
“Father, protect me from the temptations and roadblocks the
enemy puts in my path to "cut in on" my journey to be the hands and
feet of Jesus to those You put in my path. May I never be so distracted that I
am not fully aware of a divine appointment or a task You place in front of me.
“Holy Spirit, help me to put on Christ daily and to clothe
myself in the armor of God each day so that I might be prepared for the battle.
May I be continually aware of wearing the righteousness of Jesus.
“Lord Jesus, give me the strength to turn away from the things
that I tend to spend so much time with that they have become or have the
potential to become idols in my life. Give me quick recognition right now of
anything that I need to say no to in order to say yes to You! Help my everyday
life to be a reflection of Your kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven!”
In this spiritual war, there are no fence-sitters –
you are either on the Lords’ victorious army or on the wicked “Powers” of
Satan.
Ensure you’re enlistment on the victorious army of
the Lord. Settle that sin issue right
now by saying this prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins
have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry.
I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life
pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my
sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to
rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You,
and to do Your will for the rest of my life. Thank You, Lord, that according to
Your Word, I am born again.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.”
Related Posts:
lyrics
As we worship in your presence
there is healing
The Holy Spirit's gentle touch
is flowing
Jesus, we believe
Jesus, there's healing in your
name
As we worship in your presence
there is healing
The Holy Spirit's gentle touch
is flowing
Jesus, we believe
Jesus, there's healing in your
name
Almighty father
we lift our hands to you
We receive your power
To heal as you would do
As we worship in your presence
there is healing
The Holy Spirit's gentle touch
is flowing
Jesus, we believe
Jesus, there's healing in your
name
Almighty father
we lift our hands to you
We receive your power
To heal as you would do
Jesus, we believe
Jesus, there's healing in your
name
“O Lord Your Tenderness”
Graham
Kendrick
Chorus
O Lord Your tenderness
Melting all my bitterness
O Lord I receive Your love
O Lord Your loveliness
Changing all my ugliness
O Lord I receive Your love
O Lord I receive Your love
O Lord I receive Your love
Kim
Butts is the co-founder of Harvest Prayer Ministries and the author of The Praying Family (c) 2015 Harvest Prayer Ministries. 
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http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/26476-what-to-pray-when-you-re-in-spiritual-danger
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