Seeking Passionate Prayer in Spiritual Warfare

In today’s Bible study, we were asked to come up with a plan of attack to deal with difficult circumstances that come into your life.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) We are to turn our hardships into a time of learning, and have a positive outlook that our trials will teach us perseverance/patience.

• First, thank the Lord for the opportunity for Him to teach us to be more Christ-like.
• Then, thank Him for His promise to be with us always. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
• Thank Him that the battle is the Lord’s and not ours, and that He has already won the victory. “…For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chron 20:15) 
• Confess and repent to the Lord for what you’ve held back from Him, and give your trials to God in faith, knowing He will give you what you need to get through the trial(s). Thank Him for strengthening your faith through the trials.
• Ask for what you think you need; Ask that He align your requests with His purposes. Thank Him for lovingly chiseling you into what He wants you to be for His good purposes.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-mindedand unstable in all they do.” (James 1:5-8) 

• Thank the lord for showing you where you aren’t depending on Him. It is in the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore His influence that will cause you grief. Lay everything at His feet then He will guide you because you will be working to accomplish His purposes. “in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov 3:6)
• Thank the Lord for the wisdom He will impart. When we receive wisdom from God and live according to His direction, we are able to have joy in our trials knowing that God is guiding us to Christ-like behavior, which will deepen our faith.
• Thank the Lord for giving you His scripture as a guidline so that you are able to be rooted and grounded in His word (steadfast), and be able to come to Him in faith.
• Ask the Lord for His wisdom. Confess and repent of trying to take care of the problem under your own steam. Working on problems without bringing them to God is not aligning your desires with His purposes. Seek forgiveness for leaving Him out of your plans.
• Ask the Lord in faith to use your current struggle to His glory. Thank Him for His love and guidance. “”But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corin. 12:9)

“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.” (James 1:9-11)

• Thank the Lord for humbling you before Him. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
• Thank the Lord for making His burden light. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)
• Thank Jesus for His sacrifice and love, and for dying a brutal death and overcoming death so that if you believe in faith, you will have everlasting life. Thank Him that you don’t need to do any works in order to gain your salvation, but that He provides it freely to all who will believe. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us: wisdom from God (that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. “Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'” (1 Corin 1:30-31)
• Confess and repent of any false pride you have had. Ask for the Lord’s forgiveness.
• Thank Him for His forgiveness and His love. Thank Him for the majesty of His character. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8)