The Battle

As much as I'd like to say that I always have a constant prayer routine and pray everyday.. I can't. There have been days that I have dropped the ball and haven't made time for it. I'm convicted of it and constantly ask the Lord to help me to be in prayer everyday.
 Recently though, there have been several situations that need a lot of prayer, driving me to pray everyday. I also have been searching scripture for verses about prayer. Ephesians 6:12 has always served as a reminder to me, to remember who the real enemy is and who I'm fighting against. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." However, this week I started getting discouraged as I read that verse. Even though I know that God is more powerful than any principality or power, I wasn't seeing any change in what I was praying for and I felt defeated.
Until God caused me to run across this verse in Colossians. Colossians 2:15 says "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." It so encouraged me to read, and realize that the principalities and powers we wrestle against are already defeated! The Lord reminded me of what I already knew, but He reinforced it in my mind. Don't forget that the battle we are in is very real and the struggle is constant, but also don't forget that battle is already won by Jesus, and we serve a Victorious King!

Psalm 34

I love Psalm 34! The Lord has used it to comfort me so many times. Especially on those nights I feel like my prayers aren't being heard. Then I turn to this chapter, and read the wonderful truths written there. The Lord does hear when the righteous cry out! He might not answer immediately, but He will always answer. Sometimes I think that maybe He doesn't answer immediately so I will continue to seek Him, and realize my desperation and hopelessness apart from Him. 

My favorite part of this chapter is verses 15-20, but I love the whole chapter.

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

⁸ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹⁰ The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

¹¹ Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
²⁰ He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
²¹ Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
²² The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.