Prayer During War: How to Shield Yourself and Your Spheres in Prayer
A visitor of Demaratus, king of Sparta, asked him, “Why is disgrace visited upon those who lose their shields, but not those who lose their helmets or breastplates?”
He responded, because they "put [these] on for their own sake, but the shield is for the common good of the whole line.”
The church has lost her shield of prayer because of her unwillingness to cover those around her. When we pray, we often cover our own needs and neglect those outside of our immediate concern, leaving members of the body unnecessarily exposed to the schemes of the enemy.
I’ve done this. I’ve thought about my own needs before the needs of others. I am often quicker to pray for my own prosperity than the needs of those I have relationship with.
Jon Tyson said, “If you love someone and you want more for them than you can personally give, it will move you to intercession. It will move you beyond your abilities into the heart and power of God, to ask him to act on behalf of others.”
Not only does our prayerlessness reveal our idolatry but also our tragic lack of love for those we’d proclaim we care for.
The New Testament is full of examples of people asking for others to cover them in prayer. In nearly every letter, Paul asks churches to pray for him.
To the Romans he asks them, “to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Romans 15:30-32).
To the Corinthians he says, “You also must help us by prayer” (2 Corinthians 11:1).
To the Philippians he declares that through their prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, “this will turn out for my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-20).
To the Colossians, he commands them to “continue steadfastly in prayer” and asks them “to pray also for us” (Colossians 4:2-4).
To Philemon, he believes that through Philemon’s prayers he will be able to come to him (Philemon 1:22).
And to the Thessalonians, twice he writes “brothers, pray for us.”
If Paul, writer of over half of the New Testament, found it necessary to ask people to pray for him, how much more do we need prayer? We may be tempted to think that Paul’s great calling gave him permission to ask entire congregations to pray for him, yet does God not have a great calling for you and the lives of those around you? We think too lowly of what God can accomplish through us by faith in his name. We live in a prayerless time, and without prayer, few things are accomplished.
The enemy is content with a prayerless and therefore powerless Christianity. We reveal our lack of faith in what God wants to do by our lack of prayer. And for those who do pray, we are often ignorant of the enemy’s workings in our lives and the lives of those around us.
We often will proclaim that the eyes of the Lord are looking for those whom he can give strong support (2 Chronicles 16:9) without remembering that our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Sam Gibson, director of pray.nyc called the enemy, “a lawyer and a terrorist.” We do not need to be afraid of the enemy, but like Paul, we should be able to say, “we are not unaware [of the Satan’s] schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
We must cover our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer.
When Spartan soldiers went to battle, they’d often use a phalanx, a dense formation of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with overlapping shields. These shields would protect the soldiers to their right and left, and even those behind them, from incoming projectiles.
To effectively recover our prayer shield as the body of Christ, each of us should resolve to pray for those who are in authority over us, those who are running beside us, and those we are investing in.
A few weeks ago, Sam Gibson shared a simple 10-part framework to pray for ourselves and believers around us.
1. Confess: I confess Jesus Christ is Lord over my mind, body, and the universe.
Daily confession of Jesus Christ as Lord reminds us of who we are in relation to the Creator of the Universe. He is Lord, we are not. He is uncreated, we are creation. "The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1).
2. Crucify: I choose to live a crucified life today.
Jesus makes it clear, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). The problem with a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) is its tendency to get up and walk off the altar. We must daily choose to live a life submitted to Jesus and not our own fleshly desires.
3. Cut: I cut off every demonic assignment, agreement, and attachment in the name of Jesus.
Believers can often think that we live in a world where there is no enemy. John makes it clear, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Similar to how there are God given assignments, agreements, and attachments – there are also demonic assignments, agreements and attachments. We must be vigilant to cut off their authority and power in our lives and the lives of those around us.
4. Cancel: I cancel every demonic curse, hex, vex, and spell in the name of Jesus.
Darkness is real. Curses are real. So are spells. You may have not heard the terms hex or vex before but, they are forms of curses that agents of evil will place on believers that will act as a filter – keeping you from seeing people rightly and others from viewing you rightly. The blood of Jesus and name of Jesus have power. Canceling these allow us to walk in the authority God has given us in greater measure.
5. Confuse: Jesus, I ask that you would confuse and destroy every demonic scheme, strategy, system, and snare.
Our God is not a God of confusion when it comes to spiritual gifts, but he does confuse the enemy (Exodus 23:27) with David going even as far as asking God to “confuse the wicked” in Psalm 55:9. Like David, we should boldly ask God to confuse and destroy the enemy's plans in our lives and those around us.
6. Cover: Jesus, cover me/them in your blood.
The blood of Jesus is the most powerful substance in the universe. By the blood of Jesus we are forgiven, set free, made right with God, healed, delivered, and given a joy-filled abundant life that lasts into eternity. We ask God for the ability to walk in the freedom and power that was purchased for us on the cross.
7. Conceal: Jesus, conceal me/them in the shadow of your wings.
The enemy is looking for those whom he can devour. David continually asked God to be hidden from the enemy’s schemes and plans.
In Psalm 17:9, David asks to be hidden in the shadow of God’s wings.
In Psalm 27:5, David declares that he will be hidden in the shelter of God’s sacred tent.
In Psalm 64:2, David asks to be hidden “from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.”
We similarly should boldly ask God to hide us from the enemy.
8. Canopy: Jesus, place a canopy of fire over my/their life.
Isaiah 4:5-6 says, “Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”
The fire of God is the consuming presence of God. We are asking for God’s presence to cover and protect us and our community.
9. Clarity: Jesus, give me/them clarity in seeing, hearing, and understanding God and others.
One of the primary questions I am asked is, “Do you think this was God?” We often sort through whether an invitation was from God, our flesh, or the devil before we act with conviction. We are asking God to bring clarity as we discern our hearts and the hearts of others.
10. Conviction: Jesus, give me/them conviction and faith.
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Would we be a people that walk in faith, conquering kingdoms, administering justice, and gaining what was promised to us from heaven." (Hebrews 11:33).
Praying through these 10 C’s takes 45 seconds – 1 minute per person. If each person reading took 10-15 minutes asking that God move in this way, I believe we will see a tangible difference in our communities if we persevere.
One of our members who currently is in the Middle East declared, that praying this for himself and others has been life changing. I personally have received immense strength and stability after just a few weeks of praying this for myself, my family, and those I’m in proximity to.
There is no revival without resistance. As we seek him, the enemy will take notice and seek to steal the inheritance God has for us, kill the seeds of revival, and destroy all that God intends. Let us lock shields in prayer once again and ask God to move in our city and the lives of those we love.
He responded, because they "put [these] on for their own sake, but the shield is for the common good of the whole line.”
The church has lost her shield of prayer because of her unwillingness to cover those around her. When we pray, we often cover our own needs and neglect those outside of our immediate concern, leaving members of the body unnecessarily exposed to the schemes of the enemy.
I’ve done this. I’ve thought about my own needs before the needs of others. I am often quicker to pray for my own prosperity than the needs of those I have relationship with.
Jon Tyson said, “If you love someone and you want more for them than you can personally give, it will move you to intercession. It will move you beyond your abilities into the heart and power of God, to ask him to act on behalf of others.”
Not only does our prayerlessness reveal our idolatry but also our tragic lack of love for those we’d proclaim we care for.
The New Testament is full of examples of people asking for others to cover them in prayer. In nearly every letter, Paul asks churches to pray for him.
To the Romans he asks them, “to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Romans 15:30-32).
To the Corinthians he says, “You also must help us by prayer” (2 Corinthians 11:1).
To the Philippians he declares that through their prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, “this will turn out for my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-20).
To the Colossians, he commands them to “continue steadfastly in prayer” and asks them “to pray also for us” (Colossians 4:2-4).
To Philemon, he believes that through Philemon’s prayers he will be able to come to him (Philemon 1:22).
And to the Thessalonians, twice he writes “brothers, pray for us.”
If Paul, writer of over half of the New Testament, found it necessary to ask people to pray for him, how much more do we need prayer? We may be tempted to think that Paul’s great calling gave him permission to ask entire congregations to pray for him, yet does God not have a great calling for you and the lives of those around you? We think too lowly of what God can accomplish through us by faith in his name. We live in a prayerless time, and without prayer, few things are accomplished.
The enemy is content with a prayerless and therefore powerless Christianity. We reveal our lack of faith in what God wants to do by our lack of prayer. And for those who do pray, we are often ignorant of the enemy’s workings in our lives and the lives of those around us.
We often will proclaim that the eyes of the Lord are looking for those whom he can give strong support (2 Chronicles 16:9) without remembering that our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Sam Gibson, director of pray.nyc called the enemy, “a lawyer and a terrorist.” We do not need to be afraid of the enemy, but like Paul, we should be able to say, “we are not unaware [of the Satan’s] schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
We must cover our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer.
When Spartan soldiers went to battle, they’d often use a phalanx, a dense formation of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with overlapping shields. These shields would protect the soldiers to their right and left, and even those behind them, from incoming projectiles.
To effectively recover our prayer shield as the body of Christ, each of us should resolve to pray for those who are in authority over us, those who are running beside us, and those we are investing in.
A few weeks ago, Sam Gibson shared a simple 10-part framework to pray for ourselves and believers around us.
1. Confess: I confess Jesus Christ is Lord over my mind, body, and the universe.
Daily confession of Jesus Christ as Lord reminds us of who we are in relation to the Creator of the Universe. He is Lord, we are not. He is uncreated, we are creation. "The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1).
2. Crucify: I choose to live a crucified life today.
Jesus makes it clear, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). The problem with a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) is its tendency to get up and walk off the altar. We must daily choose to live a life submitted to Jesus and not our own fleshly desires.
3. Cut: I cut off every demonic assignment, agreement, and attachment in the name of Jesus.
Believers can often think that we live in a world where there is no enemy. John makes it clear, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Similar to how there are God given assignments, agreements, and attachments – there are also demonic assignments, agreements and attachments. We must be vigilant to cut off their authority and power in our lives and the lives of those around us.
4. Cancel: I cancel every demonic curse, hex, vex, and spell in the name of Jesus.
Darkness is real. Curses are real. So are spells. You may have not heard the terms hex or vex before but, they are forms of curses that agents of evil will place on believers that will act as a filter – keeping you from seeing people rightly and others from viewing you rightly. The blood of Jesus and name of Jesus have power. Canceling these allow us to walk in the authority God has given us in greater measure.
5. Confuse: Jesus, I ask that you would confuse and destroy every demonic scheme, strategy, system, and snare.
Our God is not a God of confusion when it comes to spiritual gifts, but he does confuse the enemy (Exodus 23:27) with David going even as far as asking God to “confuse the wicked” in Psalm 55:9. Like David, we should boldly ask God to confuse and destroy the enemy's plans in our lives and those around us.
6. Cover: Jesus, cover me/them in your blood.
The blood of Jesus is the most powerful substance in the universe. By the blood of Jesus we are forgiven, set free, made right with God, healed, delivered, and given a joy-filled abundant life that lasts into eternity. We ask God for the ability to walk in the freedom and power that was purchased for us on the cross.
7. Conceal: Jesus, conceal me/them in the shadow of your wings.
The enemy is looking for those whom he can devour. David continually asked God to be hidden from the enemy’s schemes and plans.
In Psalm 17:9, David asks to be hidden in the shadow of God’s wings.
In Psalm 27:5, David declares that he will be hidden in the shelter of God’s sacred tent.
In Psalm 64:2, David asks to be hidden “from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.”
We similarly should boldly ask God to hide us from the enemy.
8. Canopy: Jesus, place a canopy of fire over my/their life.
Isaiah 4:5-6 says, “Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”
The fire of God is the consuming presence of God. We are asking for God’s presence to cover and protect us and our community.
9. Clarity: Jesus, give me/them clarity in seeing, hearing, and understanding God and others.
One of the primary questions I am asked is, “Do you think this was God?” We often sort through whether an invitation was from God, our flesh, or the devil before we act with conviction. We are asking God to bring clarity as we discern our hearts and the hearts of others.
10. Conviction: Jesus, give me/them conviction and faith.
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Would we be a people that walk in faith, conquering kingdoms, administering justice, and gaining what was promised to us from heaven." (Hebrews 11:33).
Praying through these 10 C’s takes 45 seconds – 1 minute per person. If each person reading took 10-15 minutes asking that God move in this way, I believe we will see a tangible difference in our communities if we persevere.
One of our members who currently is in the Middle East declared, that praying this for himself and others has been life changing. I personally have received immense strength and stability after just a few weeks of praying this for myself, my family, and those I’m in proximity to.
There is no revival without resistance. As we seek him, the enemy will take notice and seek to steal the inheritance God has for us, kill the seeds of revival, and destroy all that God intends. Let us lock shields in prayer once again and ask God to move in our city and the lives of those we love.