Be alert and pray

“Momma. Momma.” I woke from a deep sleep. In the middle of the night. 

Jenna, 6 or 7 years old at the time, was standing next to the bed. Pressing my arm. 

Yes?

“I heard a voice. Like this…” her voice changed from sweet innocence to a guttural growl. “‘Jenna, I’m going to get you.’ And there were two red eyes. And he laughed like this…” It was an evil laugh. 

I sat up straight in bed. On high alert. Heart pounding. Wide awake.

Jesus is stronger

I reached out to hold her. A flood of words flowing from my mouth. 

“O Jenna! Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! You tell that voice, ‘Jesus is stronger. I belong to Jesus.’ And sing. Remember that song? ‘When I am afraid I will trust in You….’ Or ‘Jesus loves me, this I know….’” 

We sang. We prayed. She fell back to sleep.

I sat beside her and prayed some more.

Spiritual darkness

Similar stories mark our path—all along the journey. Our children encountering spiritual darkness in vivid ways. 

The countries where we were living and serving professed various religions. But an underlying worship pervaded. One that birthed fear and ruled the ordinary days of ordinary people.

Appeasing evil spirits. 

Evil’s hold

We saw the signs everyday.

Charms and amulets to ward off the evil eye. Black threads around a newborn’s wrist. Disguising a baby boy as a baby girl so the evil one wouldn’t take him (the worth of girls—another story altogether). Chains hanging off the bus bumper so the jinn wouldn’t leap aboard. Black stone rings for power.

The evidence of evil’s hold was subtle at first. Overwhelming at times. But this we knew—there’s an enemy, out to kill and destroy. And this we learned—this enemy doesn’t care how young or vulnerable your child is. 

Be alert

So what do we do? We listen to 1 Peter 5:8-9. 

“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.”

We seek to stay aware. Alert. 

And we pray. 

A simple framework

At times the roaring lion seems formidable. Fear roars too. Or quietly weaves its way in.

So the following is a simple framework for praying in the midst of the battle. Standing firm and resisting the adversary.

1. Acknowledge the power and greatness of the Lord.

Pray with the psalmist in Psalm 18:1-3. 

“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.”

Remember. We serve the Victor over sin and death.

2. Ask for spiritual discernment and insight.

We cannot see all that is going on, but He can. So, ask.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

We need the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Informing and transforming us. Teaching us His good, pleasing and perfect will for our families and those we disciple. 

He gives us discernment to pray according to His Word in the midst of the battle. 

3. Ask for protection and deliverance.

Jesus teaches the disciples to pray, “And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).  

When I struggle with how to pray for our children or others during some spiritually dark seasons, this simple phrase often comes—“Lord, deliver them from the evil one.” 

Paul affirms in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”  

And he details the armor necessary for this struggle with the enemy of our souls. The offensive weapon in the list? The sword of the Spirit: the Word of God. 

In the asking, His Word strengthens us and exposes the liar, the adversary. 

Daily abiding keeps His truth fresh on our hearts. In our minds. And on our lips.

4. Acknowledge the power and greatness of the Lord.

Again. 

We begin with our eyes on the true Victor in this battle. And we end maintaining focus on this assurance. 

As Paul says, “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength” (Ephesians 6:10).

We need not fear. 

The Almighty—the One of vast strength—is our Shepherd.

What about you?

Do you have go-to Scripture verses as you pray for protection in the spiritual battle? How has the Lord led you in praying for your children or those you disciple?

Related posts

Parenting in the spiritual battle – Prodigal, part 1 – Prodigal, part 2 – Immanuel, God with us – Resilience – Set free on the Sabbath – Redeemed – Pray continually – Strong roots and movable tents –