The Lord used the messages I heard this past weekend to reinforce the true nature of our battle.
On Saturday, I felt more than a little discouraged as I looked at the vicious and unfair attacks on our President, the sharp political chasm in our nation, and the growing acceptance of pedophilia as it moves along the identical path homosexuality took many years ago.
I desperately needed the reminder of Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." It’s so easy to personalize our battles as being against a particular person or group and forget that our enemy is blinding their eyes to the truth, deceiving them, and turning them against what is good.
They are the victims of Satan, not his willing tools to promote his purposes. I frequently forget this in my zeal to oppose them and the evil they sometimes represent. It’s the devil who deserves my fury, not those deceived by him.
What Should Be Our response?
I believe our most powerful response is prayer. The place of battle belongs in our prayer room (or perhaps gathered together with other believers) where we claim God’s promise of victory over Satan’s hordes and plead for our nation and those under his illusory spell.
It’s becoming ever so clear to me that debating is futile. It’s only the Lord who can redeem people from the deceptive lies of our enemy and bring them safely into His glorious kingdom (see Col. 1:13-14).
A Modern Day Daniel
I believe that the Lord is already using the prayers of believers to hold back our enemy from taking control of our country and has placed godly men and women in places of influence. Vice President Mike Pence reminds me of the prophet Daniel. I believe he is one of the most sincere followers of Jesus in politics today and yet he continually has the ear of our President, Donald Trump.
The President sought his advice on selecting the next Supreme Court Justice and the two frequently enjoy lunch together. Regardless of how you regard President Trump, you must see the value of having such a godly man by his side giving him wise counsel.
The Command to Pray
In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul instructs us to pray for all those in authority over us. I have not always obeyed this instruction, especially when I did not like the president at the time. However, I am sure I would have abhorred the Roman Emperor at the time, Nero, and yet the apostle instructed believers of his day to pray for him. It was wrong for me not to pray for past presidents with the passion that I pray for our current president.
James 5:16 tells us that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Our prayers do make a difference! I know it’s easy to become discouraged when we do not see visible changes as the result of our prayers. Regardless, we have the Lord’s assurance that our prayers matter. Why would the Lord ask us to pray for our leaders if our prayers on their behalf did not change things?
Prayer is Our Most Powerful Weapon
I read many convincing and cogent arguments that address the evils of our day and perhaps they do influence a few. Brilliant people write them and I believe they have a significant place in confronting the deception of our age. These writers deserve our encouragement; they have a needed place in the battle.
For the vast majority of us, however, our most powerful weapon is prayer. It's when we are on our knees that we most effectively confront the injustices and evil of our day. I am learning that prayers, or more precisely the Lord who answers them, are far more powerful then my comments on social media.
Until Jesus comes to take us to His Father’s house in heaven, our prayers will make a significant difference in restraining the work of the evil one in our nation.
Please remember: Prayer is our most powerful weapon!!
Maranatha!!