“Satan is a full-time accuser. He does it day and night, the Bible says (Revelations 12:10). Instead of convicting you for the purpose of restoration, as God’s Spirit does, he condenms you for the purpose of destroying, humiliating.” Fervent p28

For a long time I believed that God was punishing me.

I found myself in a hard marriage (much my own doing) but instead of taking responsibility for my part in the problems, it was easier to blame God and believe that the reason life was so hard was because I was a sinner.

Pregnant before we were married I had sinned in the ultimate way, I believed. God couldn’t and wouldn’t love someone like me and so with every trial we faced I saw it as a punishment.

It is hard to build a solid relationship with a God that you feel is punishing you 24/7.

And isn’t that right where the enemy wanted me? For years I was deceived and my relationship with God was distant and strained.

Oh God was always there and I know now that He loved me right through that time…but I kept God at arm’s length. Sure I would pray when I needed something (He was my spiritual vending machine remember?) but my prayers were not filled with love and awe for Him.

They were empty and selfish prayers. The prayers of someone who was stuck in the mire of lies from the enemy.

Yes there were choices I made that brought me to a place of conviction, but instead I saw it as condemnation.

Shame has been a tool that the enemy has used against me for years.

Until this past year, I wasn’t even really aware of it either. But I spent some time reading a book called “Tired of Trying to Measure Up” and the core focus of that book was how shame can shape who we are.

I understood shame in my earliest years, although I wouldn’t have labeled it as that. I felt in my heart that I was not ok. No one said that to me that I can remember, it was just a pervasive feeling I have always had.

Enter awkward teenage years, bad hair, braces and glasses…I was not what you would consider “popular” and I so desperately wanted to be more.  So I tried to be the smart girl instead. But I wasn’t the smartest. I was painfully shy so things like theater or swing choir, while appealing, were not something I could try out for.

The enemy knows my fears and I was an easy target. Even today I struggle with feelings of inadequacy. And while I can more easily call them out for what they are…it isn’t easy walking as though they don’t bother me.

Priscilla says this “He (the enemy) warps your perspective on the current events in your life until reality appears much worse and more desperate than it truly is.” p29

What situation is he warping in your life right now?

It may be really bad, I have been there. I’ve walked through the really bad…so I am not trying to write it off as unimportant. But what if, in these moments, we stopped acting in crisis mode and started to pray that God would reveal His perspective?

I imagine that the chains the enemy has had me in for so long would start to be broken if I stopped seeing life as another crisis and started asking God to show me the way forward.

We are going to be faced with difficulty, the Bible says that in John 16:33! But read the second half of that verse…“But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Satan is the great accuser yes, but God IS the MIGHTY REDEEMER!

The battle has already been won. The enemy is just hoping that during your journey you would be filled with more stress and doubt than peace. But God has already had the final word and one day we will understand all things clearly.

So for today, whatever battle you face…step forward in prayer. Ask God for clarity and wisdom. In whatever you are doing, invite God to reveal His truth to you. The accuser will continue to come at you but you can fight back in prayer!

Lord, You are mighty and we claim the promise today that the battle has already been won. While the enemy may still attack us we can remain firm in Your Truth. Help us in our moments of doubt and fear to seek You first. We know Lord that when we call out to You, You hear us. Thank you that we don’t have to walk this path alone. In Jesus Name, Amen 

There have been moments in my life where my prayers were more like demands. God – do this, and if I was feeling generous…God PLEASE do that! Other times I have found myself speechless, unsure of what words are even appropriate for a certain situation. I have questioned if I am doing it right because my prayers didn’t seem to be answered.

It is easy to get caught up in the “how to pray the right way” mentality. And for someone like me that can be taken to an extreme. I get over focused on doing it perfectly that I forget that this is my opportunity to commune with a Father who loves me.

So I share this model that Priscilla introduces as just another way you can approach prayer. You don’t have to do it this way to do it “right.” But if you are anything like me, there are times that my mind can wander and I get off track. Praying one minute, thinking about the items I need to add to my grocery list the next.

This model helps me stay focused and also keeps me from sending up only demanding prayers.

Throughout the book Fervent, Priscilla uses this model to encourage us to be more specific in our prayer life, it helps ready us for the daily battle.

P.R.A.Y.

P – Praise

This is our opportunity to spend some time thanking and praising God for who He is. I often thank God for the beautiful creation we get to experience every day. The sunrise and the rains that nourish our ground. I see God so much in nature, so it is one of the easiest ways for me to thank Him for who He is.

R – Repentance

Boy do I need to spend some time with God each day asking for forgiveness! Ha! 🙂 But really, come at this time in prayer being willing to recognize your part in things. If you have Christ in your life you are already forgiven. The debt has been paid. But understanding that sacrifice leads us to having hearts of repentance. I know when I have messed up, been hurtful with my words or had a short temper with one of my children. God already knows it too.

We aren’t confessing something that God doesn’t already know, but it is those times we are convicted by the Holy Spirit that we come and repent of those sins and thank God for His grace. In these times of real honesty with God I am sharing the lesson I learned and am often overwhelmed once again by how much He loves me, even though I am a constant hot mess!

A – Asking

When we ask in prayer we are submitting our specific needs to God. Who are we praying for, what is their specific need? As I said before I used to spend my asking time demanding MY will in the situation. I have found that it is better for me to be praying in God’s will instead of my own. This is where walking out my faith is put to the test. Will I trust God even if the answer isn’t what I had hoped?

In so many instances I have found that God does answer my prayers…and not always as I had hoped, but always for my best interest. We are just not equipped to see like He is. How often I need to remind myself of that!

Y – Yes

Here is where Priscilla recommends that we end our prayers with agreement in God’s word. Praying scripture is yet another way that we can add power to our prayer time! One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…”

How often in a time of crisis am I worried about the what-ifs? When fear starts to creep in I will pray this verse in my prayers. Remembering that God can do far more than we had ever hoped or imagined. Some days that is all I can cling to. But I would rather hold onto hope from His word than anything this world tries to offer me!

Prayer doesn’t have to be hard. And maybe there is a method of praying that has worked better for you? I’d love to hear about it! Just remember that this is a place to start if a fervent prayer life is something new to you. God will reward our faithfulness and the more we spend time with God the closer our relationship will be with Him. And that is the ultimate goal!

Lord, we thank you for the gift of prayer! That You created prayer as a way to commune with You. Thank you for loving us that much. You are never out of reach, we can always access You! What a gift! So often I take this time with You for granted. I rush through my prayers demanding MY will and MY wants instead of taking into consideration that You know what is best for me. Thank you Lord that You are so abundant with Your grace. Lord there are women here today that may be struggling with this topic of fervent prayer. Pour out your presence on them today. May they feel strengthened in their relationship with you by beginning to be obedient in prayer. You do give us more than we could hope or imagine Lord, and while I don’t always remember that during times of difficulty, have seen it play out in my life time and time again. Thank you for your faithfulness Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!

I think it was one of those mornings when I just woke up on the “wrong side of the bed.”  The reality was that I hadn’t done anything to fight against it. I didn’t attempt to get up early for some much needed quiet time. I didn’t pray in the shower like I sometimes do. Instead I just had a spirit of irritability.

Ever been there?

It probably doesn’t matter what someone else does or doesn’t do…it wouldn’t be right regardless. Everything is annoying or makes you angry and it is hard to find joy!

I was just in that foul mood and surprisingly it took most of the day into the late afternoon before I realized that I had let the enemy run a muck in my heart. And when I became aware I was MAD.

Seriously, not again! What in the world is my problem?

Here I am almost 5 times through the reading of a book FOCUSED on prayer and the schemes of the enemy and I was walking around angry at the world and blaming them for my bad attitude.

Sometimes I want to give myself a good scolding.

I should know better, but here’s what I realized once again. I hadn’t been preparing myself for the daily battle. I wasn’t in communication with God. I wasn’t walking in Truth. I was floundering trying to control everyone and everything around me.

It is a humbling moment when you find yourself there once again. Once again Lord here I am so very sorry for my behavior and ready to start again.

Thank God for grace right?

In Ephesians Paul talks about how we should prepare ourselves for this battle we face against the enemy every day.

Ephesians 6: 10-18 says: ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”

What struck me most the first time I read this was “with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” The enemy is firing rounds at us ALL.THE.TIME. And they hurt, they burn! And if we aren’t prepared they will wound us.

It is not in my own might that I am able to stand against the enemy – but God’s. 

He is the one that will fight on my behalf, but I MUST take on His protection over me. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, being ready by the gospel of peace and the shield of faith,the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

Man if I had put on even one of those things that morning, imagine how much differently it might have turned out!

And so, armed with Truth I can start my day over again. Seeking His protection as I walk this journey. Knowing that the enemy WILL come, but I don’t have to go into battle unprotected! Don’t forget friends that this is a spiritual battle. So often we try and handle things on our own with little to no success.

I don’t want anger and emotions to rule my day, but instead I want to be filled with the peace of God’s spirit. Don’t we all?!

Lord, we come to you weary from the battle. We confess that we have tried too often to fight by our own strength and we are beaten down by the enemy. Forgive us for not turning first to You Lord! Help us to each put on our armor, Your armor Lord that will protect us from all the enemy has to fire at us. Thank you for loving us so much that you protect and provide for us. Our hearts are ever grateful for new beginnings and grace. In Jesus Name, Amen.

My mom recently brought me some things that she found in my old room. Included were a couple of worn notebooks. Filled inside were the prayers of a young teenager. I read through several of the pages and almost burned them (I still might)!

The cries of my heart at that time were so juvenile. A desperate need to be loved. Whether it was this boy or that…I wanted a “relationship” with someone. A wanted to be told that I was special. My prayers for a boyfriend were often not answered in the way I had hoped. I had many boy friends, but very few that wanted to “go out” with me.

As embarrassing as those notebooks were, they were evidence of a love for journaling  and record keeping that has been with me for years and years.

I had prayer journals in college where I prayed big prayers for my now husband. And in 2008 when I started my family blog, it became an online cry of my heart. Writing has been an outlet for me to share my faith, my hopes and dreams and even at times, my biggest frustrations.

A few years ago I heard about Mark Batterson’s 40 Day Prayer Challenge. He wrote about circling your prayers. Writing them down and circling them in prayer until you had an answer. I loved the idea and every morning I would get up early and listen to one of his devotionals and then spend time writing out the prayers I had for myself and my family.

I loved Priscilla’s story about her grandmother’s prayer journal. And the reason behind all of her recording was simple. “So I won’t forget.”

How often have I whispered a prayer, and then when it was answered, moved on…even forgotten how it was answered?

When I take the time to write out my prayer requests, and the answers, it helps me remember all the ways that God has been faithful to respond.

Even in those teenage cries, He heard and He answered. Thankfully He didn’t always answer in the way I hoped. What’s that old Garth Brooks song…“Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers. Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs. That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care. Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” 

You’re welcome by the way…that’s one of those that will be stuck in your head all day! 😉

But there is so much truth there.

Sometimes the prayers God doesn’t answer the way WE think best, are the greatest gift.

Life gets hectic, years run together and I start to forget.

I forget all the ways God has been faithful. In times of crisis I need to remember the last time I felt hopeless and out of control. I need to remember that He was there, remember the way He took my ashes and made them into something beautiful.

The enemy would like nothing more than to erase the miracles from our memory.

When we journal our prayers we leave a legacy of God’s goodness. A testimony to all He has done, something for our family to read that may just strengthen their faith. We just never know what God can and will use to bring someone to Him.

So I encourage you today that if you haven’t ever written out a prayer, that you start. It doesn’t have to be pages and pages. Keep it simple. Do what works for you. But write them down, so that you won’t forget either!

Lord, Thank you for answering our prayers even if they aren’t in the way we had hoped. We want to be people that remember and tell of your goodness. Prayer journaling is a way to do that. Stir in our hearts a joy for not only prayer, but also in sharing all the ways that You have been faithful to answer. May the recording be a way to bring You glory and honor. We love you Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.

As I have studied prayer I have come to realize that my view of prayer, why we pray, how to pray, what to pray about has been skewed.

Often times prayer came as a last resort.

Crisis would happen, I would be in that place again and I needed help. I had essentially tried everything in my own power to manage and control a situation and found myself broken and hopeless. I would pray for God to “fix it” and hope He would answer my prayer in a way that was acceptable to me.

God was my spiritual vending machine.

When I needed a fix I would go and ask for a handout. I didn’t spend time praying every day….only when I finally needed help.

I don’t believe that I had ever considered that prayer was an opportunity for me to be prepared for battle against the enemy.

Have you?

As we move through this book Fervent we will discover that the enemy does everything he can to pull us down, but we don’t have to enter into those situations defenseless. We can have a plan for strategic, fervent prayer!

But God can’t be my after thought, my last resort. He needs to be my first choice, my only defense. {<===Click to Tweet}

Priscilla says this “If all we’re doing is flinging words and emotions in all directions without any real consideration for the specific ways the enemy is targeting us and the promises of God that apply to us, we’re mostly just wasting our time.” p4

The first few times I read that sentence I was focused on the the ways that the enemy was targeting me. I was completely ignoring the promises of God. It is easy to get wrapped up in the mess.

It is where the enemy wants us stuck in. The hopelessness, the fear, the anxiety and what-ifs.

In those moments we aren’t thinking about God’s promises are we? When I am focused on the burn of his fiery darts I am forgetting about the truth that the battle has already been won. God has already redeemed us, our situations. He has already defeated the enemy.

The enemy will lie to us and tell us that we can’t trust God, our broken will never be fixed. But it IS a lie! The blood of Jesus has already covered our sins. We are promised life with Him in eternity.

So in those times where I am filled with fear and doubt, I need to be praying His truths out loud! And just like I need some daily exercise {we are working on that next} I also need to spend time every day in prayer.

When we are working to build a new friendship, we invest in it by spending time with that person. The more time we spend, the deeper the intimacy that is shared, the more personal the relationship.

This same idea goes for our relationship with God.

If I want to know His truth, His heart and love for me, I need to invest in a relationship with Him.

Prayer is the easiest way I have found to do this. Sometimes I share my heart, profess my love for Him. Sometimes I am frustrated and I tell Him so. (It’s ok…He can handle it!) Other times I am speechless, in awe of what He is doing in my own life or the lives of those I love. I use prayer as my way to commune with Him.

The more I do it, the more {like exercise} it becomes a habit. And as the relationship builds, the less I see God as my “fix my need” machine and instead He is becoming my “I can’t live without You” Savior.

I know I don’t do it perfectly, and there are days even now that I realize I haven’t invested in Him at all. But God is patient with me, and always there. And what a gift that is!

Lord, I don’t deserve the love You have for me. And yet…I am convinced it is there. I stand amazed and overwhelmed. Stir our hearts for more of You. That we would come to see that prayer would be as necessary as breathing. And in those times where we are facing a battle we can know, without a doubt, that You are there. The fight has already been won. Help us to bring our weary hearts to You. Every day. In Jesus Name, Amen