Day 19 (21 Days of Prayer and Fasting)

(Read Scripture Passages Above)

Reflect on the Word

Living as if we don’t have a spiritual enemy is a common—but serious—mistake for believers. We buy into an under-spiritualized view of the world that robs us from a true understanding of the freedom God has promised.

When we don’t know who our enemy is, we make enemies of the wrong things. Core to the gospel is an understanding that there is one who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. We need not fear the enemy—Jesus has full authority over him—but we must not live without contending against his schemes to destroy us.

We must also guard against the opposite mistake—giving the enemy more power than he has. As real as he is, his only power is deception. As we rightly anchor ourselves to Jesus, we find our true source of power and victory because the enemy has already been defeated.

Jesus commissioned His church with the promise that the gates of hell would not overcome it.

How easy it is for our hearts to be drawn to the things of the world and the heaviness of darkness.

But we are people of faith.

Even when the darkness seems all-consuming, may we be people who set our eyes on Jesus, the One who has conquered sin and death. This is a victorious faith that the enemy cannot stand against.

Prayer + Contemplation

1. Reflect on your own understanding of spiritual warfare. Have you overestimated, or underestimated, the influence of the enemy? Have you overestimated, or underestimated, the power of Jesus? Pray that God would give you a right understanding of the spiritual realm.

2. Pray that God would use you as a spiritual force for good in your family, work, church and world.

3. Pray for strength, courage and wisdom as you engage with the enemy. Intercede for those all over the world who need freedom and breakthrough, and who need the power that only Jesus can provide. If there are specific people, countries or people groups that come to mind, pray that God would deliver them from the lies of the enemy.