Transcription
Look, it's tough to pray at times. It's not always easy or fluid to just stop everything and start praying, even though you know you have to. But today, I'd like to speak to you about how you can build strength and confidence in the Lord. And the best way to do this is to pray the scriptures. You can always stand strong on God's promises.
And I say this because in life, there will come a time when you will encounter deep waters. Storms will come, the wind will blow and disrupt things, the rain will fall. But if you stand on God's word, if you stand on his promises, you are standing on firm ground. God's word and his promises should be our foundation so that whatever comes against you, the foundation that is the word of God will shelter you. Chaos may be around you, but the promises of God will be your refuge. The waters may rise. Your life may be shaken. That is a reality for all of us. But let me tell you this. There is a place to run to. There is a place to stand. And there is a foundation that is sure. And that foundation is the word of God.
There are no limits to the power of God in his promises to his children. Deuteronomy 11:18 says, "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." You cannot know the promises that God has made to you if you do not read his word. You need to know Matthew 11:28 which says, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." That's a promise. If you're tired, Jesus Christ offers you rest. If you're being weighed down by your burdens, Jesus Christ offers you rest. This is a promise that we should know during those times when life seems to be overwhelming.
Now Isaiah 40:29 says he gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. That's a promise. John 14:27. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." That is a promise. There is no way that you can know the word of God and know the promises of God and not be filled with strength and confidence. If you need protection, there's a promise for that in God's word. If you need peace, there's a promise for that. If you're fighting anxiety, if you're feeling lonely, there is a promise that addresses that in the Bible. And so, you may be there right now facing a challenge, facing a tough situation. I encourage you to declare the word of God and stand on the Lord's promises. "I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me."
Now, please understand that the devil will do everything he can to distract you and to sway you from focusing on the promises of God. So, be aware of the enemy and his schemes. He will attack you with doubts. He will attack you with feelings of condemnation, guilt, and shame. But whenever you hear the devil whisper, when he tries to tell you that you will never be forgiven for what you've done, when he whispers and tells you that you'll never be able to move on from your past, or if he tries to tell you that you are unloved and unwanted, I want you to remember this promise in Romans 8:38-39 where the Bible says, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." So don't ever be insecure about your identity. Don't ever be unsure of where you stand with God. The Bible says nothing is able to separate us from the love of the Lord.
So when problems arise, when battles are before us, when we experience spiritual warfare, the word of God has to be a source of constant reassurance to us. It must be that which ignites the fire in our faith. It must kickstart your hope and belief. So that regardless of what you're facing, despite the size of the enemy, despite whatever is taking place in our lives, we have a divine and heavenly insurance policy, which is the word of God. We're backed by angelic forces that come to our aid when we shout the name of Jesus in desperate need of help. We have security in our father's faithfulness. He has never lost a battle. He has never been defeated, nor can he ever be defeated. So stand on God's promises, woman of God. Stand and believe in God's promises, man of God. The battle is not yours, but it is the Lord's. The fight before you is one that you should fight on your knees. The fight before you is not one that you should fight with your own strength, but it's one that you should be fighting with God's word. The key to winning the fight before you. The key is in the word of God. So, when you find yourself in a battle, I encourage you not to entertain the devil's attacks. Don't tolerate them. We have powerful promises that we can stand on in God's word. We have the victory in the name of Jesus. We have victory. And so we should declare and speak with authority God's word.
And so now let us pray. You, Lord Jesus, are the chief cornerstone, the chief cornerstone of my life. My heart trusts in you. I choose to lean not on my own understanding, but I choose to lean on you, Lord. I choose to submit and trust in you because you are an awesome God. You are mighty and you are great in all of your ways. So mighty are you, Lord, that heaven is your throne and the earth is your footstool. I pray and declare Psalm 18:2. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." You are my place of safety, Lord Jesus. You are my solid rock. Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit would empower me to be more consistent in my walk with you, to be more consistent in reading your word, to be more consistent in prayer. Help me to build a foundation that's based on you, on your word, and your principles. Lord Jesus, give me a spirit that is willing to persevere and continue steadfastly in prayer. Make me the kind of believer who strives to pray always and not to lose heart. Your word in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Holy Spirit, help me to deepen my trust in God. Holy Spirit, teach me how I can give myself to the things of the Lord. Help me to yield and surrender to the Lord so that his will may be placed above mine. It's in you, Jesus, that I place my hope. My hope in the one who never disappoints, my heavenly father. I praise you for you alone are worthy to be praised. I praise you because your word in Isaiah 40:29 says he gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength. Father, increase my strength. Let me not faint, but give me the strength. Father, the strength to face each day with confidence. The type of confidence that fears nothing because you, Lord Jesus, are greater than anything on this earth. Father, when I feel as though I am lacking, or when I feel as though I don't have enough, may I be reminded that your word says in Psalm 34:10, "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." I lack nothing because you are a good shepherd. Your rod and staff, they keep me close and they guide me. Your word says God is not human that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? It's you, Lord Jesus, that leads me through the valley of the shadow of death. You lead me through it and still offer me peace. You lead me through the valley and even when I am weak and tired, even when I am afraid, you still make it known that you are there. You're a friend that sticks closer than a brother. You are with me as a defender and a strong tower. I bless your name and thank you for your loving kindness. Protect me today in all ways. I pray that you cover me, Lord Jesus. I thank you for hearing my prayer. I bless your name for being a loving God, a God who looks upon me favorably. Blessed be your holy name, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
When life is at its darkest, this is when you should call out to the Lord. David experienced days like this quite often. He must have, because all throughout the Psalms there is this theme of calling out to the Lord. I mean, think about it. How many times do we read something along the lines of, "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help." Or you might read something like, "Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me." Today, dear listener, I want to encourage you to call on the Lord. The Bible says in Psalm 5:1-2, "Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house. In reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted. Their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave. With their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, oh God. Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad. Let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous. You surround them with your favor as with a shield."
Saints of God, there is a name that holds power. There is a name that chases away demonic spirits. There's a name that brings light in the midst of darkness. And that name is Jesus Christ. Now let us go to God in prayer.
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Dear God, we call out to you, Master. We call out to you, Lord Jesus, because our families need you, God. Our children need you. We need you, Lord Jesus, to touch our lives. We need you to quicken our spirits and bring revival to our hearts and into our homes. Lord, we call out to you and ask that your presence surround us. May your presence dwell in our homes. May your peace fill our hearts in these times of uncertainty. Lord Jesus, we call on you because there is none like you. You are the rock of ages, the chief cornerstone, the great high priest, the holy one, the everlasting father. And we call on you, Lord, because you've said in your word, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." We call on you, King Jesus, because your word says, "Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you will honor me." Lord, I pray for every person under the sound of my voice. For the person who's crying out for healing today, may you answer their cry, Lord Jesus. For the person that's crying out for love and comfort, may they find wholeness in your presence. We declare your word in Psalm 145:18-21. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. He also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever." Your name is set high and above all other names. Lord, thank you for your amazing and endless love. I praise your holy name today. And God, I acknowledge that you alone are God. Yours is the power and the glory and the honor. Thank you, Father, because you're faithful to equip me with all that I need. Your wisdom is unparalleled, your power unmatched. You are a God who provides us with all that we need. Actually, you give us more than we need. Whether it's healing, restoration, protection, or peace, we look only to you, Lord Jesus. Lord, you're faithful to empower. You're faithful to help us stand strong and victorious and not be defeated. And because Jesus is victorious over Satan, Lord, we know that we too can walk in victory. So I declare that through the grace of God, we have the faith to stand against Satan's attacks and win. We are not defeated by our troubles in Jesus' name. We are not oppressed by our afflictions in Jesus' name. As long as we hold on to you, Lord Jesus, we will live and enjoy a victorious life. We will know you as a healer. We will know you as the one who can restore double what the enemy stole. We will know you as a shield and protector. Father, enlighten our spirits and help us to see through the eyes of faith. Help us, Lord, so that the eyes of faith may lead us to walk in your will. Blessed be your holy name, Lord Jesus, both now and forevermore. It's in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ that we pray this prayer. Amen.
Peace is not the absence of trouble, but peace is the presence of Christ. Now dear friends, may the beautiful presence of Jesus Christ be found to be in abundance over your life so that even in the midst of your challenge, in the midst of your storm, you will have peace. 2 Samuel 22:3-4 says, "My God is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior. From violent people, you save me. I called to the Lord who is worthy of praise and have been saved from my enemies." Now I encourage you to declare this verse over yourself. Make it personal to you. Begin to confess, "God, you are my rock in whom I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation. You are my stronghold and my refuge. You are my savior and you save me from violence." Allow me to speak this blessing over your life. May you find Jesus Christ to be the strength you need. May you find Jesus Christ to be a mighty shield that defends you. A shield that blocks every evil dart sent by the enemy. May you find Jesus Christ to be the horn of your salvation. May he be your stronghold and refuge. And may he be your peace and comfort.
Now let us pray. Lord Jesus, we call upon you because you are worthy to be praised. We are empowered by your word that says in Revelation 5:5. "But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals.'" Indeed, Jesus Christ has conquered all. And by his strength and through his blood, we are more than conquerors. We are more than conquerors because we serve a living God, an all-conquering God. Lord, I pray for every person listening and I declare your word in Zephaniah 3:17 over their lives as it says, "The Lord your God in your midst, the mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing." Father God, you are a righteous and faithful God. Your word in Proverbs 29:2 says that "fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." Meaning that fearing people is a dangerous trap. But trusting you, my Lord, means safety. Trusting you means preservation. It means protection. Help us never to place our faith or trust in man. Help us never to trust even in ourselves, but may you enable us to trust you, King Jesus. May we see your hand working in our life. May we see the wonders of your great love. And I pray that you will hide me in the shadow of your wings, my Lord. Father, where else can we find protection but in you? Where else can we find safety but in your presence? There is nowhere else and no one else who can offer peace beyond understanding but you, my Lord God. I am grateful for your many promises of preservation and safety. I pray today for your presence to always be found resident in my heart and even in my homes. May the Holy Spirit lead me in all that I may do so that I might seek refuge in you and never in this world. I pray that the Holy Spirit leads me to live a life that is upright and pleasing in your way so that I may have the fear of the Lord. Because when I fear you, Lord Jesus, your word assures me in Psalm 34:7 that "the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them." I call on the name of Jesus Christ today. I ask you to be with me always, Lord, to be my strong tower. I have faith that you will keep me and my family in peace and safe from the evil one. I believe that no weapon that is formed against me shall prosper. And every tongue that shall rise against me in judgment, you will condemn. I believe your word that tells me that you wish above all things that I will prosper and be in good health. I pray that you will never leave me or forsake me. May you surround me with your glorious presence. Your presence is what offers me divine protection, supernatural protection wherever I go and also within my home. I run to you today, King Jesus. I run into your loving arms for protection. You are a loving shepherd and the great protector. Be glorified and magnified today, Father. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
In John 14:13-14, the Bible says, "And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." Take note of that. Jesus says, "Whatever you ask in my name." We are encouraged to pray in Jesus's name. This is not to say you can ask for money, material things, and blessings after blessings all in the name of Jesus Christ and expect God to shower you with everything you desire. That is not how we should be praying. Now let me clarify something. When the Bible says, "Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son," I believe it means if we ask anything in Jesus's name according to God's will, then he will answer. We need to understand that our asking must be aligned to God's will for it to be answered.
Now, with that being said, I want you to know that there is power in the name of the Lord. In Luke 10, the Bible tells us that Jesus appointed around 70 disciples to go in pairs and visit every town and city preaching the good news about salvation. Jesus gave them strict instructions to follow while they were on their journeys. And in Luke 10:3, Jesus said, "Go your way. Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves." Now, think about that. A lamb in the midst of wolves. Now, could there ever be a good outcome in that scenario? No, but I believe that Jesus was trying to make us understand that living for him will not be easy. Going out into the world to proclaim the gospel is not an easy task. But here's the thing that the 70 disciples had over their enemies. They had the Son of God on their side. They had the King of Kings on their side. And so even if it were a hard task, with Jesus Christ on your side, the impossible becomes possible. With Jesus Christ on your side, even as lambs sent out in the midst of wolves, you are more than a conqueror.
Now concerning the 70 disciples, the Bible tells us in Luke 10:17-20, "The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.' And he said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'" I find it uplifting and powerful that the 70, those who were told that they were being sent out like lambs in the midst of wolves, they found out just how powerful the name of Jesus is. Even the demons are subject to the name of Jesus. Do you know what this means? It means even the demons have to obey when we speak through the authority that's in the name of Jesus. This means that sickness and disease has to obey and bow down to the name of Jesus Christ. Depression and anxiety has to obey and bow down to the name of Jesus Christ. All manner of dysfunction, every curse and hex has to it all has to bow down and obey the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
A lady named Charity Gail sang a song called "I Speak Jesus." And she says, "I just want to speak the name of Jesus over every heart and every mind, 'cause I know there is peace within your presence. I just want to speak the name of Jesus till every dark addiction starts to break, declaring there is hope and there is freedom. I just want to speak the name of Jesus over fear and all anxiety, to every soul held captive by depression." Now the part that ministers to me is when she says, "Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. Burn like a fire." What really moves me about this psalm is the fact that it glorifies the name of Jesus Christ. It places his name above depression, above anxiety, above every dark addiction. And saints, if only we can grasp the beauty and power of Jesus Christ, our minds are too limited to understand just how wonderful he is. With this understanding, let us pray.
Lord Jesus, it is by your stripes that we are healed. It's by your precious blood that we overcome the devil. And it's by your wonderful sacrifice on the cross that we are saved. Your word says in Philippians 2:9, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name." May your name be lifted high and above all other names, Lord Jesus. May your name be lifted high and above every attack from the enemy. You are the rock of ages, Lord Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have placed our hope in you, King Jesus. You are a deliverer, a redeemer. Lord, you are our present hope in every situation. It's you who causes us to overcome. It's in you that we have breakthroughs and blessings. Father, we may be hard-pressed on every side, but thank you, Lord, because we are not crushed. And if we find ourselves perplexed in our situation, we trust and rely in you, Lord, because you will never leave us in despair. Lord, we may be persecuted, but you are a God who will always stand by our side and never leave us abandoned. And Lord, even if we are struck down, we know it's not over. So long as we are in your hands, we will not be destroyed. Your word in John 8:12 says, "Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" As we follow you, Lord Jesus, may your light shine brightly in our lives. May your light shine and burn away all impurities and all unrighteousness in our lives. Lord, you are the vine and we are the branches. As we abide in you and you in us, help us to bear much fruit. For without you, we can do nothing. We need your strength, Father. We need you in every sense. Thank you for the authority you have given us. Your word in Luke 10:19-20 says, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." We bless your precious name, King Jesus. All glory and honor be unto you. Amen and amen.
My King and Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your goodness, for your pure love towards me. Guard me against the devil. Lord, be my shield and my defense. I declare your word in Joshua 1:9, which says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." I declare your word to be true in my life today. I will be strong because of you, Jesus. I am courageous because of you, Jesus. I am not frightened or dismayed by the enemy because of you, my Lord Jesus.
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Be my comfort and peace. I bless your name for being faithful, my risen King, my chief cornerstone. Philippians 4:13 says that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I speak this promise to be true in my life. King Jesus, whether I am at work, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I have the skill to do things efficiently and well through Christ who strengthens me. Whether it's related to school or my studies, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I ask that you be with me wherever I go. I ask that you be with me in my home, at my place of work, and wherever I may go. May your presence go with me. May your hand be upon me in whatever I do. May your hand be upon my loved ones. May you guide my steps and lead me to walk in safety. May you be a lamp unto my feet and show me where to go. Lord, I have the strength to face each new day because of the power that's in the blood of Jesus. I praise you for your goodness. I praise you for your love which knows no bounds. I ask that your presence may be upon us. I pray that even those who are around me and those who will be around me, may your presence and favor be so strong upon me that they will feel it. Father, I declare that I am blessed in the morning. I am blessed at noon day and I am blessed in the evening. I pray that today the favor of God will go before me. The blood of Jesus Christ will come over me. May the Holy Spirit lead me and speak to me. It's in you, King Jesus, that I seek strength. The strength to get up and face each day with joy, gladness, and boldness. It's in you, Jesus, that I place my hope, my hope in the one who never disappoints, my heavenly father. I praise you for you alone are worthy to be praised. I praise you because your word in Isaiah 40:29 says, "He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength." Father, increase my strength. Let me not faint, but give me the strength, Father, the strength to face each day with confidence. The type of confidence that fears nothing. Because you, Lord Jesus, are greater than anything on this earth. Father, when I feel as though I am lacking, or when I feel as though I don't have enough, may I be reminded that your word says in Psalm 34:10, "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." I lack nothing because you are a good shepherd. Your rod and staff, they keep me close and they guide me. Your word says God is not human that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? It's you, Lord Jesus, that leads me through the valley of the shadow of death. You lead me through it and still offer me peace. You lead me through the valley and even when I am weak and tired. Even when I am afraid, you still make it known that you are there. You're a friend that sticks closer than a brother. You are with me as a defender and a strong tower. I bless your name and thank you for your love and kindness. Protect me today in all ways. I pray that you cover me, Lord Jesus. I thank you for hearing my prayer. I bless your name for being a loving God, a God who looks upon me favorably. Blessed be your holy name, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
It's your name, King Jesus. For you are worthy to be praised, God. You're worthy to be praised because you're the same yesterday, today, and forever more. You, Master, are still able to speak to every dead Lazarus and bring back life. You're still able to speak stillness into every storm. So, Father, all praise be to you and to you alone because all that we could ever want can be found in you, King Jesus. All that we could ever need can be found in you. In you we have protection. We have refuge. In you we have found love and mercy. Your word in Micah 7:18-19 says, "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." Your love, Lord, is divine. It's true and everlasting. So great your love, Almighty God, that you gave your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Your love, Jehovah, is characterized by your grace, by your forgiveness and your mercy. Your love, divine love, it's eternal. And God, I thank you that it is unconditional. Your love is one that does not require us to work for it because you did all of the work on the cross. And so, it's not a love that we need to earn. And that's because you loved us while we were yet sinners. And God, because of this, we're grateful. Your word in 1 John 4:16, it says, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." Master, I thank you for always being present. Whenever I've been in need, Lord, you've been my provider. You've been my protector. You've been the one who's given me peace. And so, whenever I call on your name, God, I know that you've heard my cry. Lord, I'm grateful. I'm grateful for all of the love, the mercy, the grace that has been and that is now shown to me. Even though, Lord, I know I don't deserve it. But, Father, I thank you for your faithfulness. Even through the tough times of my life, you've been there and you've been faithful. You've been consistent. You've been the constant in my life. And so God, to you alone be the glory. Father, in your presence is the safest place we can be. And so together with everyone listening right now, our prayer, Lord, is that your presence would cover us. May you walk with us every day. May the Holy Spirit help us to realize and understand the magnitude of your love. And God, help us to never take it for granted. May we be convicted to live lives that honor you, lives that hate sin and love righteousness. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for you have loved us with an everlasting love. God, you've proven yourself to be always faithful. God, we trust and hold on to your word that says in Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is in your midst. The mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing." Sing over me, Lord God. Stay in my midst. Rejoice over me with gladness. And Father, thank you for quieting me with your love. When the world tries to rush in and when fears try to invade our space and when panic attempts to knock at our door, God, I thank you for quieting us with your love. God, you're worthy to be exalted and I uplift your name on high. Father, thank you for hearing this prayer. All the glory be unto you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
King Jesus, give us hearts that desire to pray. Your word in Psalm 141:2 says, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Lord, I pray that our prayers will be as sweet incense rising to heaven. We desperately need you, King Jesus, as we seek you in prayer and in your word. May you reveal yourself to us in a deeper way. You are the God who goes ahead of us on a daily basis, preparing the way for us to walk in peace and victory. You, Lord, are our rescuer. You are our deliverer. What may be too strong for us is not too strong for you, my Lord. What may be too difficult for us is no match for you, my God. What might trouble us will be no trouble to you. And so we look to you. I thank you for your grace and mercy. I thank you for making me victorious in your name. Indeed, victory belongs to you, Lord Jesus. And I pray and declare Deuteronomy 28:7 and say, "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." I pray and declare Luke 10:19 and say, "I have been given authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy and nothing will harm me." In Jesus' name I pray. I bless you, Lord, for the power that is in your word. I take confidence from your word because it tells me that you are a God who will fight for me. At your command are a host of angels that can come and defend me. In the middle of my battles, I know that I am not alone. And because I know that you are with me, I will neither be shaken nor fearful. I will not be afraid because my God, Emmanuel, is with me. I am never alone in any battle because you are with me. Father, I look to you and I thank you, Lord Jesus, for you are greater than anything I could face. You are greater. You are bigger. You are mightier than any Goliath, any Red Sea. You, King Jesus, are bigger than any problem, any storm or situation. And I am so truly grateful that you are on my side. You are my pillar of support and you are my chief cornerstone. I invite the spirit of the Lord to always be within me. May the Holy Spirit fill me with bold fire and conviction so that I would not be intimidated by the enemy and his forces, but instead I will rejoice that God's strength is made perfect in my weakness. Father, I ask you would fill me with boldness and courage so that in the middle of any battle, I can stand and believe on your word, so that I can stand on your promise that tells me in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." I thank you, Lord, and I confess that I have a sound mind. I confess that I live with and I am accustomed to the power of God operating in my life. And above all, I thank you for the richness of your love, a perfect love that drives out all fear. May you take all the glory and all the praise for each and every single one of my victories. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Look, it's tough to pray at times. It's not always easy or fluid to just stop everything and start praying, even though you know you have to. But today, I'd like to speak to you about how you can build strength and confidence in the Lord. And the best way to do this is to pray the scriptures. You can always stand strong on God's promises.
And I say this because in life, there will come a time when you will encounter deep waters. Storms will come, the wind will blow and disrupt things, the rain will fall. But if you stand on God's word, if you stand on his promises, you are standing on firm ground. God's word and his promises should be our foundation so that whatever comes against you, the foundation that is the word of God will shelter you. Chaos may be around you, but the promises of God will be your refuge. The waters may rise. Your life may be shaken. That is a reality for all of us. But let me tell you this. There is a place to run to. There is a place to stand. And there is a foundation that is sure. And that foundation is the word of God.
There are no limits to the power of God in his promises to his children. Deuteronomy 11:18 says, "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." You cannot know the promises that God has made to you if you do not read his word. You need to know Matthew 11:28 which says, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." That's a promise. If you're tired, Jesus Christ offers you rest. If you're being weighed down by your burdens, Jesus Christ offers you rest. This is a promise that we should know during those times when life seems to be overwhelming.
Now Isaiah 40:29 says he gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. That's a promise. John 14:27. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." That is a promise. There is no way that you can know the word of God and know the promises of God and not be filled with strength and confidence. If you need protection, there's a promise for that in God's word. If you need peace, there's a promise for that. If you're fighting anxiety, if you're feeling lonely, there is a promise that addresses that in the Bible. And so you may be there right now facing a challenge, facing a tough situation. I encourage you to declare the word of God and stand on the Lord's promises. "I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me."
Now, please understand that the devil will do everything he can to distract you and to sway you from focusing on the promises of God. So be aware of the enemy and his schemes. He will attack you with doubts. He will attack you with feelings of condemnation, guilt, and shame. But whenever you hear the devil whisper, when he tries to tell you that you will never be forgiven for what you've done, when he whispers and tells you that you'll never be able to move on from your past, or if he tries to tell you that you are unloved and unwanted, I want you to remember this promise in Romans 8:38-39 where the Bible says, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." So don't ever be insecure about your identity. Don't ever be unsure of where you stand with God. The Bible says nothing is able to separate us from the love of the Lord.
So when problems arise, when battles are before us, when we experience spiritual warfare, the word of God has to be a source of constant reassurance to us. It must be that which ignites the fire in our faith. It must kickstart your hope and belief. So that regardless of what you're facing, despite the size of the enemy, despite whatever is taking place in our lives, we have a divine and heavenly insurance policy, which is the word of God. We're backed by angelic forces that come to our aid when we shout the name of Jesus in desperate need of help. We have security in our father's faithfulness. He has never lost a battle. He has never been defeated. Nor can he ever be defeated. So stand on God's promises, woman of God. Stand and believe in God's promises, man of God. The battle is not yours, but it is the Lord's. The fight before you is one that you should fight on your knees. The fight before you is not one that you should fight with your own strength, but it's one that you should be fighting with God's word. The key to winning the fight before you. The key is in the word of God. So, when you find yourself in a battle, I encourage you not to entertain the devil's attacks. Don't tolerate them. We have powerful promises that we can stand on in God's word. We have the victory in the name of Jesus. We have victory. And so we should declare and speak with authority God's word.
And so now let us pray. You, Lord Jesus, are the chief cornerstone, the chief cornerstone of my life. My heart trusts in you. I choose to lean not on my own understanding, but I choose to lean on you, Lord. I choose to submit and trust in you because you are an awesome God. You are mighty and you are great in all of your ways. So mighty are you, Lord, that heaven is your throne and the earth is your footstool. I pray and declare Psalm 18:2. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." You are my place of safety, Lord Jesus. You are my solid rock. Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit would empower me to be more consistent in my walk with you, to be more consistent in reading your word, to be more consistent in prayer. Help me to build a foundation that's based on you, on your word, and your principles. Lord Jesus, give me a spirit that is willing to persevere and continue steadfastly in prayer. Make me the kind of believer who strives to pray always and not to lose heart. Your word in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Holy Spirit, help me to deepen my trust in God. Holy Spirit, teach me how I can give myself to the things of the Lord. Help me to yield and surrender to the Lord so that his will may be placed above mine. It's in you, Jesus, that I place my hope. My hope in the one who never disappoints, my heavenly father. I praise you for you alone are worthy to be praised. I praise you because your word in Isaiah 40:29 says he gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength. Father, increase my strength. Let me not faint, but give me the strength. Father, the strength to face each day with confidence. The type of confidence that fears nothing because you, Lord Jesus, are greater than anything on this earth. Father, when I feel as though I am lacking, or when I feel as though I don't have enough, may I be reminded that your word says in Psalm 34:10, "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." I lack nothing because you are a good shepherd. Your rod and staff, they keep me close and they guide me. Your word says God is not
human that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? It's you, Lord Jesus, that leads me through the valley of the shadow of death. You lead me through it and still offer me peace. You lead me through the valley and even when I am weak and tired, even when I am afraid, you still make it known that you are there. You're a friend that sticks closer than a brother. You are with me as a defender and a strong tower. I bless your name and thank you for your love and kindness. Protect me today and always. I pray that you cover me, Lord Jesus. I thank you for hearing my prayer. I bless your name for being a loving God, a God who looks upon me favorably. Blessed be your holy name, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
When life is at its darkest, this is when you should call out to the Lord. David experienced days like this quite often. He must have because all throughout the Psalms there is this theme of calling out to the Lord. I mean think about it. How many times do we read something along the lines of in my distress I called upon the Lord to my God I cried for help. Or you might read something like, "Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud. Be gracious to me and answer me." Today, dear listener, I want to encourage you to call on the Lord. The Bible says in Psalm 5:es 1-2, "Listen to my words, Lord. Consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my king and my God. For to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my request before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness. With you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies. the bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house. In reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted. Their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave. With their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, oh God. Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad. Let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous. You surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Saints of God, there is a name that holds power. There is a name that chases away demonic spirits. There's a name that brings light in the midst of darkness. and that name is Jesus Christ. Now let us go to God in prayer. Dear God, we call out to you, Master. We call out to you, Lord Jesus, because our families need you, God. Our children need you. We need you, Lord Jesus, to touch our lives. We need you to quicken our spirits and bring revival to our hearts and into our homes. Lord, we call out to you and ask that your presence surround us. May your presence dwell in our homes. May your peace fill our hearts in these times of uncertainty. Lord Jesus, we call on you because there is none like you. You are the rock of ages, the chief cornerstone, the great high priest, the holy one, the everlasting father. And we call on you, Lord, because you've said in your word. Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and uncarchable things you do not know. We call on you, King Jesus, because your word says, "Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you will honor me. Lord, I pray for every person under the sound of my voice. For the person who's crying out for healing today, may you answer their cry, Lord Jesus. For the person that's crying out for love and comfort, may they find wholeness in your presence. We declare your word in Psalm 145 18- 21. The Lord is near to all who call on him. To all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. He also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. Your name is set high and above all other names. Lord, thank you for your amazing and endless love. I praise your holy name today. And God, I acknowledge that you alone are God. Yours is the power and the glory and the honor. Thank you, Father, because you're faithful to equip me with all that I need. Your wisdom is unparalleled, your power unmatched. You are a God who provides us with all that we need. Actually, you give us more than we need. Whether it's healing, restoration, protection, or peace, we look only to you, Lord Jesus. Lord, you're faithful to empower. You're faithful to help us stand strong and victorious and not be defeated. And because Jesus is victorious over Satan, Lord, we know that we too can walk in victory. So I declare that through the grace of God, we have the faith to stand against Satan's attacks and win. We are not defeated by our troubles in Jesus' name. We are not oppressed by our afflictions in Jesus' name. As long as we hold on to you, Lord Jesus, we will live and enjoy a victorious life. We will know you as a healer. We will know you as the one who can restore double what the enemy stole. We will know you as a shield and protector. Father, enlighten our spirits and help us to see through the eyes of faith. Help us, Lord, so that the eyes of faith may lead us to walk in your will. Blessed be your holy name, Lord Jesus, both now and forever more. It's in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ that we pray this prayer. Amen.
[Music] Peace is not the absence of trouble, but peace is the presence of Christ. Now dear friends, may the beautiful presence of Jesus Christ be found to be in abundance over your life. So that even in the midst of your challenge, in the midst of your storm, you will have peace. 2 Samuel 22 3-4 says, "My God is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior. From violent people, you save me. I called to the Lord who is worthy of praise and have been saved from my enemies. Now I encourage you to declare this verse over yourself. Make it personal to you. Begin to confess, God, you are my rock in whom I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation. You are my stronghold and my refuge. You are my savior and you save me from violence. Allow me to speak this blessing over your life. May you find Jesus Christ to be the strength you need. May you find Jesus Christ to be a mighty shield that defends you. A shield that blocks every evil dart sent by the enemy. May you find Jesus Christ to be the horn of your salvation. May he be your stronghold and refuge and may he be your peace and comfort.
Now let us pray. Lord Jesus, we call upon you because you are worthy to be praised. We are empowered by your word that says in Revelation 5:5. But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals." Indeed, Jesus Christ has conquered all. And by his strength and through his blood, we are more than conquerors. We are more than conquerors because we serve a living God, an allconquering God. Lord, I pray for every person listening and I declare your word in Zephaniah 3:17 over their lives as it says, "The Lord your God in your midst. The mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing." Father God, you are a righteous and faithful God. Your word in Proverbs 29:2 says that fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Meaning that fearing people is a dangerous trap. But trusting you, my Lord, means safety. Trusting you means preservation. It means protection. Help us never to place our faith or trust in man. Help us never to trust even in ourselves, but may you enable us to trust you, King Jesus. May we see your hand working in our life. May we see the wonders of your great love. And I pray that you will hide me in the shadow of your wings, my Lord. Father, where else can we find protection but in you? Where else can we find safety but in your presence? There is nowhere else and no one else who can offer peace beyond understanding but you, my Lord God. I am grateful for your many promises of preservation and safety. I pray today for your presence to always be found resident in my heart and even in my homes. May the Holy Spirit lead me in all that I may do so that I might seek refuge in you and never in this world. I pray that the Holy Spirit leads me to live a life that is upright and pleasing in your way so that I may have the fear of the Lord. Because when I fear you, Lord Jesus, your word assures me in Psalm 34:7 that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them. I call on the name of Jesus Christ today. I ask you to be with me always, Lord, to be my strong tower. I have faith that you will keep me and my family in peace and safe from the evil one. I believe that no weapon that is formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against me in judgment you will condemn. I believe your word that tells me that you wish above all things that I will prosper and be in good health. I pray that you will never leave me or forsake me. May you surround me with your glorious presence. Your presence is what offers me divine protection, supernatural protection wherever I go and also within my home. I run to you today, King Jesus. I run into your loving arms for protection. You are a loving shepherd and the great protector. be glorified and magnified today. Father, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
In John 14:3-14, the Bible says, "And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. Take note of that. Jesus says, "Whatever you ask in my name." We are encouraged to pray in Jesus's name. This is not to say you can ask for money, material things and blessings after blessings all in the name of Jesus Christ and expect God to shower you with everything you desire. That is not how we should be praying. Now let me clarify something. When the Bible says whatever you ask in my name that I will do that the father be glorified in the son. I believe it means if we ask anything in Jesus's name according to God's will, then he will answer. We need to understand that our asking must be aligned to God's will for it to be answered.
Now, with that being said, I want you to know that there is power in the name of the Lord. In Luke 10, the Bible tells us that Jesus appointed around 70 disciples to go in pairs and visit every town and city preaching the good news about salvation. Jesus gave them strict instructions to follow while they were on their journeys. And in Luke 10:3, Jesus said, "Go your way. Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Now, think about that. A lamb in the midst of wolves. Now, why would a lamb be sent out into the midst of wolves? Could there ever be a good outcome in that scenario? No. But I believe that Jesus was trying to make us understand that living for him will not be easy. Going out into the world to proclaim the gospel is not an easy task. But here's the thing that the 70 disciples had over their enemies. They had the son of God on their side. They had the King of Kings on their side. And so even if it were a hard task, with Jesus Christ on your side, the impossible becomes possible. With Jesus Christ on your side, even as lambs sent out in the midst of wolves, you are more than a conqueror.
Now, concerning the 70 disciples, the Bible tells us in Luke 10:1 17-20, the 72 returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. I find it uplifting and powerful that the 70, those who were told that they were being sent out like lambs in the midst of wolves, they found out just how powerful the name of Jesus is. Even the demons are subject to the name of Jesus. Do you know what this means? It means even the demons have to obey when we speak through the authority that's in the name of Jesus. This means that sickness and disease has to obey and bow down to the name of Jesus Christ. Depression and anxiety has to obey and bow down to the name of Jesus Christ. All manner of dysfunction, every curse and hex has to it all has to bow down and obey the mighty name of Jesus Christ. A lady named Charity Gail sang a song called I speak Jesus. And she says, "I just want to speak the name of Jesus over every heart and every mind cuz I know there is peace within your presence." I just want to speak the name of Jesus till every dark addiction starts to break. Declaring there is hope and there is freedom. I just want to speak the name of Jesus over fear and all anxiety to every soul held captive by depression. Now the part that ministers to me is when she says, "Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. burn like a fire. What really moves me about this psalm is the fact that it glorifies the name of Jesus Christ. It places his name above depression, above anxiety, above every dark addiction. And saints, if only we can grasp the beauty and power of Jesus Christ, our minds are too limited to understand just how wonderful he is.
With this understanding, let us pray. Lord Jesus, it is by your stripes that we are healed. It's by your precious blood that overcome that we overcome the devil. And it's by your wonderful sacrifice on the cross that we are saved. Your word says in Philippians 2:9, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. May your name be lifted high and above all other names, Lord Jesus. May your name be lifted high and above every attack from the enemy. You are the rock of ages, Lord Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have placed our hope in you, King Jesus. You are a deliverer, a redeemer. Lord, you are our present hope in every situation. It's you who causes us to overcome. It's in you that we have breakthroughs and blessings. Father, we may be hardpressed on every side, but thank you, Lord, because we are not crushed. And if we find ourselves perplexed in our situation, we trust and rely in you, Lord, because you will never leave us in despair. Lord, we may be persecuted, but you are a God who will always stand by our side and never leave us abandoned. And Lord, even if we are struck down, we know it's not over. So long as we are in your hands, we will not be destroyed. Your word in John 8:12 says, "Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." As we follow you, Lord Jesus, may your light shine brightly in our lives. May your light shine and burn away all impurities and all unrighteousness in our lives. Lord, you are the vine and we are the branches. As we abide in you and you in us, help us to bear much fruit. For without you, we can do nothing. We need your strength, Father. We need you in every sense. Thank you for the authority you have given us. Your word in Luke 10 19 to20 says, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. We bless your precious name, King Jesus. All glory and honor be unto you. Amen and amen.