Fighting in prayer (Part II)
Verse of the day: Luke 22: 31-32 " And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you; that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren"
God's heart is touched when his child is fighting in prayer for someone else or for his country. It is natural to enter into prayer to fight for yourself but taking time for someone else is not always easy. In fact, it is the selfish nature of the flesh that prevents us from it, that is why we have to fight to overcome it. If someone is not able to fight for himself, how can he fight for someone else?
In the verse of the day (Luke 22: 31-32), we are told of Satan who claimed Simon (Peter) to sift him as wheat but Jesus fought for him in prayer. He said: “I have prayed for you; that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren "(Luke 22: 31-32). Peter would never make it without Jesus’ fight in prayer. Notice that Jesus has recommended Peter to do the same for his brothers by fighting for them. God's will is that everyone who is standing in prayer can fight for those who are still weak.
When you are in a country at war, where you see only scroll tanks and soldiers in the streets filled with gunfire noise, you cannot afford to go to the beach for fun and your daily schedule must change. We must remain vigilant and armed. The Bible actually asks us to be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5: 8).
Paradoxically, today Christians behave as if they were on vacation, at a quiet beach in a very quiet town and seeing their comfort one may wonder if the devil is still present. The devil can keep silent when we read the Bible or when we go to church but when we humble ourselves in prayer, he trembles and does everything he can to stop us.
Peter was saved by Jesus' prayer. The Bible asks us to pray for each other (Jacques 5: 16) because it is the mutual prayer that breaks the plans of the enemy. Each of us should usually have at least one person to whom he prays for every single day. You should also have someone who supports you in prayer (intercedes for you) on a regular basis. I must say that Christian experience has shown me that most of those who claim to pray for you do not really pray. That is why you must pray for God to give you a real and sincere partner in prayer.
You need someone you can totally trust, with whom you can share your burdens for prayer. If you build such a union, the devil loses his mind because you build a throne for Jesus.
You will have the details in the third part.
Chris Ndikumana
