There are some prayer requests that you pray over and over, waiting for an answer. That answer seems so far away – almost impossible. The enemy taunts, “Where is your God?!” The enemy laughs and mocks. You look around and things don’t look much differently.
This part of the prayer process feels like the middle of a long 12 hour drive, when you are half way in and getting sleepy and numb. Are we there, yet?!
When you are in a major battle against the enemy, what do you focus on to keep the faith and keep on fighting? Let’s look at Revelation 12 to see what the spiritual battle in the end will look like.
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”
In the middle of the most intense battle of the ages, the devil will fight so hard. When he is thrown down from heaven, the battle on earth gets super fierce. His main role is to accuse believers. He accuses believers to God and to each other. He hates God’s children. How do we overcome Satan?
- By the blood of the Lamb- It is by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we are saved. In the beginning, the Lord said that the day that Adam and Eve sinned they would surely die. The wages or payment for sin is death. The Lord prophesied to Eve that from her seed would come someone who would crush Satan’s head. When Jesus shed his innocent blood to redeem us from the curse and take the payment for our sin. Satan lost power over us. His only power was in our sin and condemnation. But, in Jesus, we are set free from the chains of the enemy.
- By the word of our testimony – When we speak out loud and say what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are built up in our holy faith. We are personally reminded that we are not alone and that the devil has already lost the war.
When I am in a tough waiting time for an answer to a prayer, I need to often reflect on the powerful times the Lord redeemed me from other difficult and hopeless situations. There are a couple of relationships that I can reflect on. I remember, in particular, praying for a dear couple whom I loved so much. Due to a variety of circumstances, we were not really in each other’s lives anymore. I would pray everyday a prayer of “Justs.”
“Just soften the hearts.”
“Just help me.”
“Just change things.”
Then one day, the Lord said, “You are praying the wrong way. You need to pray that I will make you allies.” I thought that was impossible and wishful thinking. But, in obedience, I got on my face and prayed that we would be allies. I also continued to pray that way by faith.
And now, 10 years later, I am happy to report that (after several years) we became best friends and allies, of which there can hardly be closer and more intimate bonds.
That is my testimony. I have more. But, each diamond testimony was forged deep in the pressures of dark and perilous times.
When we grow weary, we need to remember the times the Lord has worked in power.
Prayer Point –
Today, pray for the Lord to bring to mind the victories you have achieved in prayer. Write them down. Praise the Lord out loud for these answers to prayers. Praise him for the future prayer requests we cannot see answered at this time, but will see.
“Lord, let my faith be my sight.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Revealed Ministries 