A Prayer about Resisting the Enemy
Lord of Angel-Armies,
May we never forget or discount the spiritual battle
that rages right here right now.
The evil one prowls around like a lip-licking lion,
drooling over our vulnerability and frailty.
He is a liar, a tempter, an accuser, and an adversary.
His minions serve him,
seeking to deceive us into believing people we know we love are somehow unlovely,
distract us from our mission to serve and glorify you,
and degrade the dignity you have shaped into our image-bearing being.
By the Holy Spirit, you have given us everything we need to defend ourselves
against the accuser’s stratagems:
the belt of truth,
the breastplate of righteousness,
the gospel slippers of peace,
the shield of faith,
the helmet of salvation,
the sword of the Spirit.
May we indeed arm ourselves
against all the “cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12),
and resist the devil, that he may flee from us (James 4:7).
In Jesus’ peace-bringing name. Amen.
Read Ephesians 6:10-18.