Following are some principles for spiritual warfare praying. This is the first of four blogs on this. If you have observations or principles you have learned please share them with me jerry@schmoyer.net
These are principles to help you with your spiritual warfare praying. Is it OK for someone to tell you how to pray? The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and He did (Luke 11:1-2). He never taught His disciples to preach but did teach them to pray!
Prayer is the key to all spiritual warfare work. Prayer is not preliminary to the battle, it IS the battle. As Ab Lincoln said, “If I had 8 hours to chop down a tree I’d spend the first 6 sharpening the ax.”
Make sure there is no unconfessed sin in your life (I John 1:9), especially bitterness or any form of unforgiveness (Ephesians 4:26). Be sensitive to any sin God shows you as you pray. If anything needs to be made right, so as soon as you can. Fill yourself instead with God’s Word and meditate on it.
We are at war (Ephesians 6:12). Spiritual warfare is hard for it is war, a battle to the end. Victory doesn’t come from defending ourselves, only when we take the sword of the Spirit and go on the offensive (Ephesians 6:17). Be aggressive and bold in your prayer. Attack where Satan’s forces are working. We have God’s power (Acts 1:8; John 14:12; Luke 9:1; 10:9) and authority (Matthew 8:18-20; Luke 9:1, 10; 10:17-19). In Jesus’ name we have nothing to far (Luke 10:17). But everything must be done in His name/power/authority. “In Jesus’ name” is not a phrase we use lightly, it has all the power in the universe behind it.
Sometimes spiritual warfare prayer is not about fighting a battle, but about keeping ready so the enemy knows you are praying and will focus on anything he does as soon as you are aware of it. Spiritual warfare prayer isn’t just for times of battle, but for every day. Stand your watch, be ready.
Make notes of how these principles can apply to your own prayer life. Integrate what God is showing you into your own daily prayer time.