Warfare Prayer for the Soldier of the Spirit.
As we celebrate the 74th anniversary of D-Day — a pivotal day for the Allied forces in the thick of World War II — I’m reminded how this historical moment wouldn’t have happened without the courageous Americans who responded to the call to serve their country.
It all began with three words: “Remember Pearl Harbor.” These three words rallied people to enlist in the military after the fated attack on December 7, 1941. The tragic attack pulled America together in a dark time, when war threatened everything we valued — our families, friends and our very freedoms.
Similarly, 60 years later, many people were inspired to unite and enlist for the military to serve their country after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Millions of Americans have entered military service since that day. Army Sgt. and recruiter Cheri Depenbrock told the American Forces Press Service in 2001 that she had never seen such resolve to defend America than she did after the attack.
“It was amazing the people walking into [our Cincinnati] office, the ages,” Depenbrock said. “We had so many prior-service folks wanting to come back. I was amazed at how many older people tried … some of them were in their fifties.”
“It was all about the patriotism. They didn’t care about anything else.”
Did these inspiring phenomena happen because our country suddenly became more patriotic in both of these cases of national tragedy? Not necessarily. We were sobered as a country in these cases, more than anything. But we were also suddenly and violently made aware of enemies who wanted us dead and threatened our values. And every generation who loved their country and livelihoods enough responded.
Yes, we were sobered. But we were not numbed by any means. We were made aware, we resolved to unite, and readied ourselves to fight back against darkness, no matter what might try to hold us back.
As Christians, it can be all too easy to go about our daily lives without ever thinking about how we are at war with dark spiritual forces that we can’t always see. But Paul warns us not to be complacent, saying “keep alert with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18).
How can you play your part and persevere in this spiritual war?
Your secret weapon is prayer. Prayer might not feel particularly aggressive or militant, but it is by prayer alone that you and I can engage and overcome the enemy of our souls. This kind of prayer could be called “warfare prayer.”
Think of it this way: warfare prayer is a discipline, an attack aimed at the forces of darkness that we must be aware of around us. To engage in warfare prayer is to ask for God’s help to get in on His plan, not to ask Him for help with yours. Warfare prayer worships God for the love He lavishes on us daily. In short, warfare prayer is full of gratitude.
But warfare prayer is also hard work. Paul does not give us any leeway for time off. He tells us again in Ephesians 6:18 to be“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
As Christians, we know how prayer changes our lives and attitudes. But if you have not yet thought of prayer as a powerful weapon, let me encourage you with this: our world needs more believers like you dispelling the darkness as you fight these spiritual battles. Warfare, with God’s help, begins on your knees.
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
Luke 9:22–24
There is surely no more recognized symbol of Christianity than the cross. We see it on buildings, in art, in cemeteries, in churches, and on clothing and jewelry. Yet the actual cross was nothing less than an instrument of torture and execution perfected by the Romans. And while we often speak of the cross in metaphorical terms, the cross Jesus carried was real. It was made from heavy wood, and He was forced to carry His own means of death to the place where He would die. When the weight caused Jesus to collapse, another was compelled to carry that cross in His place.
When Jesus instructs us to take up our cross and follow Him, He is not telling us how to have our “best life now.” He is calling us to a life of service and sacrifice according to the example that He set. Of course, simply knowing this does not make doing what we should easy. Many times we are tempted to avoid a particular cross that entails hardship or suffering. Charles Spurgeon said, “‘Any cross but the one I have,’ cried one. Surely it would not be a cross if you had the choosing of it, for it is the essence of a cross that it should run counter to our likings.” Being the Saviour was not free or easy for Jesus, and we should not expect our service to Him to come without cost.
Today’s Growth Principle:
We cannot truly be followers of Jesus if we shy away from the sacrifice of bearing the cross.
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