using the Sword of the Spirit

Over the past few weeks we have looked at the verses in Philippians 4:4-7 in terms of your own heart as you pray for others. Today I want to flip that around a bit and give an example of how to pray these same scriptures over someone or yourself in times of need. What does it mean to pray over someone? Prayer in my mind is a way of bringing Christ and His Spirit into a situation, an invitation into someone’s life and even your own life. Our prayer is like a spiritual covering, blanketing that person or yourself with peace, love and power through the prayers you pray.

Our prayers are also a spiritual battle. When we confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will saved (Romans 10:9). At this very time of confession and belief, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. Therefore, we have a battle between what we would naturally do in our lives and what the Holy Spirit would like us to do. As we fight this battle every day we need weapons. Ephesians 6 speaks of the armor of God. In that armor there is one weapon and it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When we go to pray for ourselves or those that requested our prayers, we are going to battle. What better weapon than the Word of God, our powerful sword!

“Lord Jesus, You ask us to rejoice in You and again rejoice. I pray, Lord, that _______ would be able to rejoice at this time. Remind him of Your character and truths he has learned while reading and hearing Your Word. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Help him to remember this and rejoice in this truth and other truths he has learned, even if he cannot at this time rejoice in his current situation. Help me to be gentle and loving towards _______ when we meet. Give me Your understanding and love so I might be a help to him, when he seeks it. Thank You, Lord, that You are near and that You are willing and able to help in this situation. Help ______ to know and believe that You are near to him. Open his eyes that he may see evidence of You, his ears that he may hear You and his heart that he may receive the truths and comforts You are sending him and know and believe that You are near. Help him to surrender his anxiety about this situation to You. Remind of Your faithfulness to him in the past, answers to prayers and provisions, so that he may come to You with a heart of thankfulness as he seeks Your help. Right now in the days to come may he be blanketed by Your peace. Peace that he cannot explain that covers him completely. Help ______ to recognize that this peace comes from You, so that once again he may recognize Your provision, even as he waits for You to take care of this problem for him. Help him not to just come to You for a resolution of this problem but to come to You for help, peace, power and comfort during this time. Give him the strength he needs to wait on You during this time.”

Notice that I did not address the prayer request but prayed for the person using this passage of scripture. Many times during our trials Jesus is working on our hearts to perfect us as the Bible explains in many places but also in Philippians 1:6. After you have prayed for the person and his/her heart and ability to receive from Christ what He is trying to send to this person, most definitely pray for the situation or incorporate the request in the prayer as you pray for the person’s heart.

The Word of God is powerful and sharper than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Use it in strength and power as you pray for yourself and others.