For God’s Help in Spiritual Warfare
Psalm 35: 1-3: Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, "I am your salvation."
GOD, thank You for being our Rock and our Salvation, our Strength and our Stronghold, our Avenger, our Protector, and our Defense. Thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us and for being our Refuge and our Strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Thank You for contending with those who contend with us and fighting against those that fight against us, especially in this battle of the spirit. Thank You for encamping your angels around us and for delivering us from our enemies—our adversaries—especially the evil one. Let us be strong and courageous and let us not be afraid or terrified of them, for You go with us and will never leave us or forsake us but will give us victory. LORD, You are our light and our salvation--whom shall we fear? You are the strength of our life--of whom shall we be afraid? You have armed us with strength for battle; You have humbled our adversaries before us and made them turn their backs in flight.
Through You, we push back our enemies; through Your name we trample our foes. If You be for us, who can be against us?
We are hard-pressed on every side yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, for we are persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from Your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Through Christ who loved us, we are more than conquerors and through His strength we can do all things, for whatever is born of You, God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith. So, thank You for strength and courage and for every victory against adversaries of flesh and spirit; let no weapon formed against us prosper, Lord, but let all be done according to Your will, purpose, and plans for us—those plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.
Let us trust in You with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; let us in all our ways acknowledge You and let You direct our path. We have confidence that with You, all things are possible, and we will not fear, for You will work all things together for good to us who love You and are called according to Your purpose because You are FAITHFUL, GRACIOUS, FORGIVING, and MERCIFUL. You are GOOD, You are JUST, and YOU are LOVE. Now, may You be exalted and glorified in our lives and in all we do. In Jesus' name. Amen.
For Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:2-5: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
MAY GOD wrap you in the strong arms of His protection and supply all your need according to His riches in glory by CHRIST JESUS. May you see in your life and this life-time the character and countenance of the LIVING GOD who is LOVE, and may you experience the safety and security of His all-inclusive embrace. May you feel the comforting presence of GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT, and encounter the power of His transforming touch. May you bear the FRUIT of HIS SPIRIT: love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control. May you feel the hand of GOD lifting and sustaining you and see the finger of GOD guiding you to hope and a future and even drying your every tear.
May you hear that still, small voice of GOD that assures you that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning; that GREATER is HE that is in you than he that is in the world; that NO WEAPON formed against you shall prosper; that you are MORE THAN A CONQUEROR through HIM who loved you; that by HIS STRIPES you were HEALED; that HE will never leave you and never forsake you; that YOU ARE LOVED, and through HIM--CHRIST JESUS--you are STRONG and COURAGEOUS, with POWER and AUTHORITY.
May you feel the strong beat of LIFE's HEART beating in yours as JESUS, the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, abides in you and you in Him, and may you see His grace, love, and compassion reflected in you and in others. May the everlasting FATHER of MERCIES bless you richly, and MAY the GOD of ALL COMFORT be with you in times good and bad, in triumphs and trials, so that you who are comforted may be blessed to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort you have received.
May GOD bless you and keep you; may He strengthen you today; may He direct your path as you trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding; may He lift you up when you have fallen, and may He sustain you throughout your days. May you be blessed, loved, uplifted, and encouraged, and above all, may you be comforted by HIM--our COMFORTER.
