I am a prayer warrior. What does that mean?
A warrior is someone who engages in warfare. A prayer warrior fights in spiritual battle; a believer in Christ who partners with the Holy Spirit to pray, rebuke the enemy and advance the Kingdom.
Lofty goals, eh?
I find in my life as a believer, I’m in spiritual battle every day, whether I’ve determined to fight or not. The enemy does not take a vacation or time off. He hates me because I belong to Christ so he is looking for every toehold he can find to get in and mess up my mindset.
It’s my aim to not provide that toehold.
What causes toeholds? There are many things the enemy can use; but today I’m looking at two of the biggies: unconfessed sin and burn-out.
Unconfessed Sin
The worst feeling in the world is when you have messed up; but won’t admit it. The enemy will whisper words of defeat constantly to you until you confess your sin and get it covered with the blood of Christ. Then your prayers will be effective.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
JAMES 5:16 NASB 1995
Burn Out
Somedays you’re not up for the battle. You’re tired, overworked or overcommitted and you just don’t have it in you to take on one more battle.
When that happens, it’s often because I’ve been running on my own strength instead of relying on His strength. I need to stop and evaluate if I’m truly doing what God has called me to do? Or am I just wanting to be a part of everything going on and not taking time for rest and rejuvenation.
Am I Sabbath-keeping? Sabbath is a gift for us, one we are quick to not accept. If we are truly trusting Christ for our daily lives, we can take time to rest in Him and believe the world will keep on spinning without our efforts for one day a week.
Engage!
I want to be rested up and prayed up so I can do my best. However; it doesn’t all rest on me. If I am relying on my Commander-in-Chief, He is invincible and causes me to be victorious as well.
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer
romans 8:37-39 nasb 1995
through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other created thing,
will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Love of God conquers all.
~~
I’m linking this post to the One Word community found at LisaNotes.com. My One Word for 2023 is Warrior used in the context of Prayer Warrior.
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Yes to your battle plan, Jerralea! Awareness that we are warriors seems like a very good beginning!
Identity is important!
Good to see you, Michele!
Jerralea, thank you for the reminder to tend to those things which hinder our prayers. Much appreciated in these days when we need to be praying more and more.
Yes! I believe we are in a time when prayer is the most valuable thing we can do.
Thanks for dropping in, Joanne!
Jerralea, you are spot on here. God has been speaking to me about prayer in my life, and I am so blessed to arrive here today!
Donna, I believe He is speaking to all of us about becoming more diligent in prayer. So glad this resonated with you today!
Wonderful thoughts. Prayer is the only thing that allows us contact with God. I am on Lisa’s One Word Link-up.
Thanks for coming by, Cecelia. It’s great to meet a new friend!
Those two things are critical for me, too, Jerralea! When we keep those in mind and address them as needed, we can stay more spiritually healthy.