Scripture to Read: Nehemiah 4:4-5
When we face the spiritual battles of this life, God has provided us Himself, through His Holy Spirit who lives in us, and His Holy Powerful Word for us to be able to overcome the battles. God has also given us the power of prayer as another incredible part of our battle gear to be able to be victorious. After God led Paul to lay out the spiritual armor that God supplies us in Ephesians 6:10-17, God then led Paul to wrap things up by writing this in Ephesians 6:18, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Notice that God led Paul to write “prayer” and “petition” both TWICE in this one verse. God also said we are to be on the alert and to pray with perseverance. So, when we face our daily spiritual battles, we are not to go into the battlefield haphazardly or casually, but we are to enter the battlefield fully arrayed in God’s armor, praying with all perseverance. As Nehemiah and the rest of the Jews were mocked and ridiculed by Sanballat and Tobiah, Nehemiah began to pray. We read the prayer in Nehemiah 4:4-5. WOW! Nehemiah did not battle Sanballat and Tobiah with his words against their mocking, but Nehemiah prayed and asked God to battle for him. What a great lesson for us as we face our battles each day.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about how to face the battles you encounter each day?
2. What other believers do you know who need to hear this truth? When will you share this truth with them this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!