God's Word on That

  • To Be a Soldier For Jesus

    The Word of God tells us war is raging in the heavenly realms over our lives (Ephesians 6), and often we don’t realize the contest that may be waging over us at any given moment. At first we are of little threat to the evil one because we do not know truth. Once the Word springs to life in our souls, however, we go from ‘being of interest’ to ‘being of concern’ to the devil. ‘Success’ describes how we handle relatively manageable challenges that any unbeliever could manage just as well. ‘Victorious’ describes how we live as overcomers in the midst of satanic opposition! You know what the devil can do. Are you ready to stand and learn to fight?

    In the name of the Lord Jesus, my Savior, I put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to stand against the tactics of the devil. For I wrestle not against [mere] flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. I take unto myself the full armor of God that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all I can, to remain standing (Ephesians 6:11-13).

    I stand, therefore, with God’s truth like a belt around my waist (Ephesians 6:14). Your Word, O my God, is truth (John 17:17), and contains all the weapons of my warfare, which are not carnal but are powerful through God to the pulling down of all strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

    I have on the breastplate of righteousness, which is faith and love [to protect my heart]. My feet are ‘sandaled with readiness’ for [spreading] the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:14-15). In Christ Jesus I have peace (Ephesians 2:14), and pursue peace with all men (Psalm 34:14). I am a minister of reconciliation proclaiming the good news of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:18).

    I take the shield of faith, wherewith I am able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. I take the helmet of salvation [holding the thoughts and purposes of God’s heart in my heart], and I wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:16-17). In the face of all trials, tests, temptations and tribulations, I cut to pieces the snare of the enemy by speaking the Word of God. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

    Thank You, Father God, for providing the armor. I will pray at all times [on every occasion, in every season] with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and I will stay alert and watchful in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). My power and ability and sufficiency are from You, God Himself, who has qualified me as a minister and a dispenser of Your new covenant of salvation through Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

  • The Lord Is Our Strength

    Because God is with me, I will be strong and very courageous. I will be careful to obey all the law God gave me, and I will not turn from it to the right or to the left, that I may be successful wherever I go… He has commanded me: Be strong and courageous. I will not be terrified, nor will I be discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:7, 9). He has promised.

    God is always ready to support and strengthen us.

    The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect me from the evil one… And I will never tire of doing what is right (2 Thessalonians 3:3, 13). When I hope in You, O Lord my God, my strength is renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles. I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:31). My God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). You, O God, refresh the weary and satisfy the faint in heart (Jeremiah 31:25).

    I truly thank You, O Lord Jesus, my gracious Lord who has given me strength; that You considered me faithful, appointing me to Your service (1 Timothy 1:12). I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). O my Strength, I will sing praises to You for You are my stronghold, my defense, the God who shows me loving-kindness (Psalm 59:17).

    I love You, O Lord, my strength! You are my [unmoving] Rock, my [surrounding] fortress, and my [ever-present] deliverer. You, my God, are my rock in whom I take refuge [from all my weariness]. You are my shield [from all unpleasantness] and the horn of my salvation [from all my difficulties], my [glorious] stronghold. I call to You, O Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies (Psalm 18:1-3).

    I do not grieve [pout or feel depressed], for the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation [in all things]; He is my God and I will praise Him; my Father-God and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2).

  • When We Need Strength To Serve

    I look to the Lord and His strength. I seek His face always — at all times in everything I do (1 Chronicles 16:11). I know that the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

    God is always watching to strengthen His people.

    The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is my strength in times of trouble (Psalm 37:39). I will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Father, please strengthen me with all power according to Your glorious might, for my strength must come from Your mighty power within me, or I can do nothing.

    Lord, You lift up those who are bowed down. Therefore I will be of good courage because You, O Lord of Hosts, strengthen my heart (Psalm 146:8). I will be of good courage and You will strengthen my heart for all my hope is in You, Lord God (Psalm 31:24). God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

    It is You, O God, who are my strength and power; You make my way perfect. You make my feet like the feet of a deer; You enable me to stand on the heights (2 Samuel 22:33-34). You broaden the path beneath me so my ankles do not turn (Psalm 18:36). Surely God is my Savior; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my saving Lord. With joy I will draw water from my well of salvation (Isaiah 12:2-3).

    Lord God, You told me: in repentance [turning to You] and rest [abiding in You] is my salvation; and in quietness [listening for You] and in confidence [knowing You will act] is my strength. So I turn to You, O my God, and I quietly wait for You (Isaiah 30:15).

    I am confident of this: I will see Your goodness, O Lord, in the land of the living. I will wait for You, my Lord God. I will be strong and I will take heart, and I will wait for You (Psalm 27:13-14).

  • We Are Called To Serve

    When I realize my worthlessness before the Lord, He lifts me up and encourages and helps me (James 4:10 Phillips).

    God’s love will find us and show us the way forward.

    When we love each other God lives in us and His love within us grows ever stronger (1 John 4:12). We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly. His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to us — and shows that we are not fully convinced that He really loves us (1 John 4:18).

    Lord, Your Word says: “You know these things — now do them! That is the path of blessing” (John 13:17). I need to keep on patiently doing Your will if I want You to do for me all that You promise (Hebrews 10:26). Lord Jesus, as I obey Your commandment – to love one another – the darkness in my life disappears and the new light of Your life in me shines through (John 2:8). Teach me to be radiant for You!

    So now, O God, grant to Your servants great boldness in preaching, and send Your healing power, and grant that many miracles and wonders be done by the name of Your holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:29-30).

  • Don’t Forget To Pray For Those Who Hurt You

    A prayer for forgiveness that can help us remain open to grace:

    O Lord Jesus, You know how upset we are because of the harm done to us. You forgave those who harmed You. Please help us to forgive, so we will not be destroyed by anger, or hatred, or revenge. Help those who have harmed us to follow You, so they may not hurt others. We place ourselves in Your care. Bless us with Your strength and peace and love, so what has happened to us may cause no further damage. Instead, let us grow ever stronger, full of compassion and courage and hope. Loving Lord, please give us grace to move ahead, walking always with You, at Your side. Amen.

    Sometimes it is easier to pray with a prayer partner.

    Father, my heart’s desire and my prayer to You is for _____’s salvation (Romans 10:1). Please redeem and be gracious to him/her (Psalm 26:11). Turn Your face upon him/her and be generous to him/her (Psalm 25:16). Surround him/her with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7). Keep him/her as the apple of Your eye (Psalm 17:8). Answer when he/she is in distress; protect him/her and send help from Your sanctuary to grant him/her support (Psalm 20:1-2). I pray too that he/she commits his/her way to You, gracious Lord, and he/she will trust in You and You will do this: You will make Your righteousness shine like the dawn (Psalm 37:5-6).

    Father, I pray for _____:

    …That You would give him/her the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so he/she may know You better (Ephesians 1:17).

    …That wisdom will enter his/her heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to his/her soul. I pray that discretion will protect him/her, and that understanding will guard him/her, and that wisdom will save him/her from the ways of the wicked (Proverbs 2:10-12).

    …That his/her love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so he/she may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ’s return, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes though Christ Jesus – to the praise and glory of Your name, my God and Father (Philippians 1:9-11).

    …That he/she will be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (Romans 16:19).

    …That he/she will be patient and not quick-tempered (Proverbs 14:29).

    …That You will guide him/her in Your truth and teach him/her Your paths; for You are my all-powerful God (Psalm 25:4-5).

    …That the peace of Christ Jesus will rule in his/her heart and in my heart, since as members of one body we were called to peace. And help us be thankful, letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:15-16).

    Now to You, Glorious Father, who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or could imagine for _____, to You be glory forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

  • God’s Word Is Plain On This

    Lord God, merciful Father, as hard as this may be for me to comprehend or rationalize, Your Word is clear. If I forgive others when they sin against me, You, my heavenly Father, will also forgive me (Matthew 6:14). For You, O my loving God, are a forgiving God (Nehemiah 9:14). Lord, I confess to You that one of my greatest temptations is to refuse forgiveness to others. Please help me see the sober reality of Your will on this matter. And, dearest Lord Jesus, save me from this sin.

    God’s Word is simple, uncompromising truth.

    You, God, tell me to love even my enemies, to do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, and pray for those who mistreat me (Luke 6:27-28). I am to pray for those who persecute me (Matthew 5:44). Dearest Jesus, please change my heart to accomplish this.

    Father, help me to understand that the punishment and repercussions that come to people when they have done wrong is often sufficient for them. Instead of causing more grief, Your Word says I ought to forgive and comfort the person, so he or she will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow (2 Corinthians 2:7). Lord, Help me to be the kind of person I would want ministering to me after I have failed.

    O Lord Jesus, when I want so badly to judge, condemn, or refuse to forgive another person, I can hear Your Words speak to my heart: If you are without sin, be the first to throw a stone (John 8:7). I am not without sin (1 John 1:8). If I claim to be without sin, I deceive only myself, and Your truth is not in me.

    You have also said, “Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud. Instead associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:16). Please, dearest Lord, keep me from such haughtiness.

    Your Word clearly states that each of us will give an account to You (Romans 14:10-13). Therefore please help me stop passing judgment on others. Instead I now make up my mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in my brother’s way. Lord Jesus, please help me to keep this vow.

    Almighty and loving God, through the power of Your Holy Spirit help me to live in harmony with others, to be sympathetic, loving as a sibling, to be compassionate and humble. Help me never to repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessings because to this I was called so I may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9).

    If I do not judge, I will not be judged. If I do not condemn, I will not be condemned. If I forgive, I will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). Teach me, O Lord God, to extend more grace to others, and in so doing I will continue to receive more grace.

  • Verses To Help Us Forgive

    I know who I have believed, and am convinced that You, O Lord, are able to guard what I have entrusted to You. I entrust this situation to You, my sovereign Lord (2 Timothy 1:12). Lord God, You will take up my case; You will redeem my life. You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause! (Lamentations 3:58-59) O merciful Lord, open my eyes to see that when You are upholding my cause, I don’t have to. Help me to lay this burden down and let You carry it instead.

    Do not let un-forgiveness ruin your soul.

    As one of God’s chosen, I am to be accepting of others and forgiving others, especially when I have a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven me, so also I must forgive (Colossians 3:13). I am to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others just as God also forgave me in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:32).

    Whenever I stand praying, if I have anything against another, I must forgive so that my Father in Heaven will also forgive me and hear my prayers (Mark 11:25). Jesus said: “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and comes back to you seven times saying “I repent”, you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4)

    Jesus, when Peter asked about forgiving his brother seven times, You told him that our Father will also not forgive us if we do not forgive from the heart (Matthew 18:21, 35). Lord Jesus, please teach me to grasp how to forgive from my heart.

    Lord, if being obedient to You causes me to suffer, I shall commit myself to my faithful Creator and continue to do as You ask. You are honorable and always faithful; You will always cause obedience to bear fruit. (1 Peter 4:19)

    You have shown me what is good, and what do You, Lord God, require of me? Only to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You, my Loving God (Micah 6:8).

    O my wise and compassionate God, according to Your Word, love is the most excellent way to deal with anything (1 Corinthians 12:31). O Father, please cause the love of Christ Jesus to compel me to do what is right in this challenging situation (2 Corinthians 5:14).

  • To Overcome Un-forgiveness

    Each of us has faced overwhelming challenges to forgive. Eventually though, truth begins to eclipse any excuse: we won’t be OK until we forgive. God’s unrelenting insistence on our forgiveness is for our own sakes, not the sake of the one who hurt us — our un-forgiveness doesn’t hurt them! God is faithful. He will plead our case and take up our cause… but only when we make a deliberate decision to cease representing ourselves in the matter.

    We never look more like Jesus than when we forgive.

    Keep in mind that forgiveness is not defined by a feeling, although it will ultimately change our feelings. Forgiveness is our determined and deliberate willingness to let something go — to release it from our possession and send it to God. God is not asking us to let “it” go haphazardly into the black hole of nonexistence. Forgiveness is the ongoing act by which we agree with God over the matter, practice the mercy He extends to us, and surrender the situation, repercussions, and the hurtful person into His hands.

    Pray for willingness-to-forgive to come to you, but also pray for that person you are having trouble forgiving. There are three parts to ‘forgiveness’ praying: (1) prayers for a forgiving attitude in yourself, (2) prayers specifically about the person you are struggling to forgive, and (3) prayers for the person you are struggling to forgive.

    Your ways are not my ways, Lord God. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9). I may not always understand Your ways, my Lord, but they are always prosperous (Psalm 10:5). Your ways are always righteous (Psalm 145:17). Your ways, O God, are holy (Psalm 77:13). Your ways are loving and faithful(Psalm 25:10). I have considered my ways, Lord (Psalm 119:59), and I choose Yours instead. Please keep me from deceitful ways (Psalm 119:29). Lord God, loving Father, help me to walk in Your ways (Psalm 119:3).

    Father, I forgive everyone who has trespassed against me so that You can forgive me my trespasses (Matthew 6:12). Father, Your Word tells me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28). So I come before you in Jesus’ name to lift up _____ before You. I invoke blessings upon him/her and pray for his/her happiness. I implore You, please, to bless him/her. And not only will I pray for _____, but I set myself up to treat him/her well; I will be merciful, sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate toward him/her even as You are, my loving Father. For I am Your child and want to be an imitator of You, my Lord God (Ephesians 5:1), and I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

    So Father, I thank You that I have great peace in this situation, for I love Your law and refuse to take offense toward _____ (Psalm 119:165). I am blessed — that is, happy with life; I have joy and satisfaction in God’s favor, and in salvation apart from outward conditions — because I take no offense and refuse to be hurt or resentful or annoyed or repelled or made to stumble [whatever may occur] (Luke 7:23 Amplified).

    And now, Father, I roll this work entirely upon You — I commit and trust it wholly into Your hands; and believe that You will cause my thoughts to come into agreement with Your will, and so my plans shall be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3). Amen.

  • We Have Our Part To Do

    Lord, I have come with weeping; I have prayed as You brought me back. You will lead me beside streams of water on a level path where I will not stumble, because You are my loving Father (Jeremiah 31:9) and You have promised.

    God can direct our paths if we will but let Him

    My Merciful God I have learned the hard way that nothing good lives in me — that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do good but cannot carry it out (Romans 7:18). But in You I have the power I need.

    Father God, Almighty One, You have warned me for my own good not to trust anything about my heart unless it is fully surrendered to You. My heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. I will never be able to understand it. Yet You, the Lord God, search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Please help me to recognize that the primary target of deception is my heart. In other words, I must be careful not to trust feelings and emotions on their own. I must wear the breastplate of righteousness so I will do the right thing even when I don’t feel like doing the right thing. In the meantime, Lord Jesus, I ask You, please, to knead the right kind of feelings into my heart until I can become strong in this.

    Father, please work in me to understand that sometimes You lead me also on certain paths to humble me and to see what is in my heart (Deuteronomy 8:2). Not that You don’t know already, but You want to show me. Purify my heart, Lord, so You will take joy in what we find.

    Loving God, Father, I am now one of Your chosen people. O God, I acknowledge and accept as fact that I am wholly and dearly loved. In response, teach me how to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. “To put on the nature that is mercy in action, kindly in heart, and humble in spirit… and above everything else to be truly loving” (Colossians 3:12 Phillips).

    Father, I desperately need Your Spirit to rid myself of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like a newborn baby, lead me to crave pure spiritual milk, so by it I may grow in my salvation (1 Peter 2:12).

    O Mighty God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men (Titus 3:2).

    Father, You have said fear of the Lord is to hate evil. You hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13). Edify me to have a healthy fear of You that abolishes pride, arrogance, and perverse speech.

    Dearest God, as one of Your own children, please direct me to flee from sin and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

    Father, help me to remember in my impatience that the end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

    Father, You are teaching me that pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice (Proverbs 13:10). Please help me to discern the pride that is involved when I am quarrelsome.

    Lord God, please tutor me gently to listen to advice and accept instruction, so that in the end I will be wise (Proverbs 19:20).

    Lord God, You have told me that in the last days many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate one another (Matthew 24:10). O Father, please keep me from ever turning away or turning cold.

  • God Will Help Us Overcome

    Lord God, surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within (Psalm 51:6). Please expose to me the deeply embedded lies I’ve believed and replace them with permanently engraved truth.

    God is always supporting His own.

    Do not withhold Your mercy from me, O my Lord God. May Your love and Your truth always protect me (Psalm 40:11). Father, please help me learn how much Your truth protects me. Without it, I am vulnerable to the enemy and to my own flesh nature.

    Father, help my soul to find rest in You alone; my hope comes from You. You alone are my rock and my salvation. With You as my fortress I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on You; You, dearest God, are my mighty rock, my refuge. Help me to trust in You at all times. Remind me to pour out my heart to You, for You are my refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8)

    God Father, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of anything but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Help me to forget all past failures, or even achievements, and to focus on pressing forward with You now.

    Lord, please help me not to be like ancient Israel whom You taught to walk and then forgot You. Help me to realize without a doubt that You are the one who heals me. You have led me with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; You lifted my yoke from my neck and bent down to feed me (Hosea 11:3-4). Help me acknowledge You daily, and never to forget who teaches me how to walk.

    Lord God, I acknowledge to You that, like the ancient Israelites, I eat but am often not satisfied (Leviticus 26:26). Help me not to confuse the hunger of my soul with the hunger of my body. If I eat physical food and am still not satisfied, help me discern a far greater need and bring it to You. O loving Lord, You are the only one who can truly satisfy the hungry soul.

    Father, according to Your Word, he who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry man even what is bitter tastes sweet (Proverbs 27:7). I am asking You in Jesus’ mighty name to make even the thought of any harmful substance [or harmful word] on my tongue bitter. Restore in me a taste for what is good and wholesome. Please.

    Lord, I belong to Christ Jesus. Therefore I have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). O Lord Jesus, help me to live in the reality of this liberating crucifixion! For I know that my old self was crucified with You, my Savior, so that this body of sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin, for anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).

    I will not lose heart, for inwardly I am being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).