Praying on the Armor

I have a fabulous prayer book that I highly recommend to everyone. It's called For the Family by Sylvia Gunter. You can order it here if you're interested. I frequently give it as a gift to newlyweds and new parents. This summer we gave one to each couple in our small group. It has really changed my prayer life. Honestly prayer has always been a challenge for me, as far as staying on topic and presenting my thoughts clearly to God. This morning, as I was praying on the armor, I wanted to share this prayer from the book. The author recommends printing them on index cards (the ones you pray most often) and have them in different places so you can pray them wherever you are. As I type them up for myself, I will also try to post them.
*Update - I posted this today before I left for church...I went to the late service. Our youth pastor spoke today mainly about parenting teens in a message titled "Fractured Generation", which obviously I don't have teens yet, but it was an awesome message. The last Scripture in our notes and that he shared was Ephesians 6:10-12 that says "Finally, be strong int he Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." I love when God speaks to me so clearly, as in giving me the same word multiple times in the same day. This has been happening a lot lately. I just get so excited to hear from God! It really fires me up...just had to post that part too!

Praying on the Armor

The Word of God commands us to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Eph. 6:10-18). We must daily stand firm against the devil's schemes by putting on our spiritual armor. It is as important to dress spiritually each day as it is to dress physically. Therefore, declare daily that you are obeying God's command to stand in all the armor available to intercessory soldiers in the battle for our families.

Father, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. They are merely fallen angels cast down from heaven by the command of the true and living God. They are in subjection to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are in Him and stand in His already-assured victory. Therefore, we put on the full armor of God, so that when the fiery darts come, we may be able to stand our ground.

We stand firm because we have taken up these weapons:

• We buckle the belt of truth around our waist - Truth is the Person of our Lord Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
• We put on the breastplate of righteousness - The Person and sinless sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is our Righteousness.
• We put on our feet the sandals of preparation of the gospel of peace - The person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our peace.
• We take the shield of faith which extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the eil one - The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is all the faith we need.
• We take the helmet of salvation - My Lord Jesus Christ Himself alone is my salvation. His mind guards our minds.
• We take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God - The Word is the Person of Jesus who came in the flesh and defeated the works of the enemy. His Word never returns void.
• We clothe ourselves in all of Jesus and prayin the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
  

"No weapon formed against us will prevail, and we will refute every tongue that accuses us. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me," declares the Lord (Isa. 54:17). The One who was born of God keeps us safe, and the evil one cannot harm us (1 John 5:18). In Jesus' name, Amen.