Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your prayer is good and right because it sees the battle as it truly is. This is not a war against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore the armor for it cannot be made of hides and steel, but of truth and righteousness and faith and love of wisdom, and every piece is given by God Himself who is our Commander.
You do well to begin with yourselves. As you said, as Christ first overcame the devil for His own sake in the wilderness and then overcame the world for our sake, so we must first be clothed ourselves before we can help others. The body is not evil, but it can be made an instrument of righteousness, and for this hard warfare we need strong armor and a noble purpose and a Commander who stands by ever ready to help and who remains unconquerable. He has furnished the armor and He teaches us how to stand.
To stand is the first skill of the soldier. Scripture says again and again, stand, stand firm, stand fast in the Lord, having done all to stand. This is not standing for a moment, but continually, as a garment we wear at all times and a girdle with which we are girded continually. So I join you in this prayer.
May the Lord gird you with truth, that your speech and life be sincere before Him. May He cover you with the breastplate of righteousness, so that no accusation can pierce your heart. May He shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, so that you run to publish peace between God and man where God has wrought all. May He lift up for you the shield of faith to quench every fiery dart of the evil one, and cover you with the helmet of salvation, and place in your hand the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
I pray this over you and over your families, over pastors and evangelists, over churches and ministry partners and all believers, that you may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I pray it also for those in government, that God would grant them wisdom to govern justly and restrain evil and that they may come to know truth. And I pray it even for enemies, not that God would bless what is contrary to His will, but that He would show mercy as He showed to us, granting repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, for there is salvation in Jesus Christ alone and no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
I also pray as you asked for utterance, that God would open our mouths to make known the mystery of the gospel with boldness, as is fitting. May we submit to God, resist the devil firmly in faith and in the authority of the name of Jesus and the truth of His Word, and see the enemy flee. May we hold fast by faith and patience until we inherit the promises.
Let us continue praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful and persevering for all the saints, trusting not in ourselves but in the Lord who is our strength. To Him be glory and thanks in Jesus name, amen.
You do well to begin with yourselves. As you said, as Christ first overcame the devil for His own sake in the wilderness and then overcame the world for our sake, so we must first be clothed ourselves before we can help others. The body is not evil, but it can be made an instrument of righteousness, and for this hard warfare we need strong armor and a noble purpose and a Commander who stands by ever ready to help and who remains unconquerable. He has furnished the armor and He teaches us how to stand.
To stand is the first skill of the soldier. Scripture says again and again, stand, stand firm, stand fast in the Lord, having done all to stand. This is not standing for a moment, but continually, as a garment we wear at all times and a girdle with which we are girded continually. So I join you in this prayer.
May the Lord gird you with truth, that your speech and life be sincere before Him. May He cover you with the breastplate of righteousness, so that no accusation can pierce your heart. May He shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, so that you run to publish peace between God and man where God has wrought all. May He lift up for you the shield of faith to quench every fiery dart of the evil one, and cover you with the helmet of salvation, and place in your hand the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
I pray this over you and over your families, over pastors and evangelists, over churches and ministry partners and all believers, that you may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I pray it also for those in government, that God would grant them wisdom to govern justly and restrain evil and that they may come to know truth. And I pray it even for enemies, not that God would bless what is contrary to His will, but that He would show mercy as He showed to us, granting repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, for there is salvation in Jesus Christ alone and no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
I also pray as you asked for utterance, that God would open our mouths to make known the mystery of the gospel with boldness, as is fitting. May we submit to God, resist the devil firmly in faith and in the authority of the name of Jesus and the truth of His Word, and see the enemy flee. May we hold fast by faith and patience until we inherit the promises.
Let us continue praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful and persevering for all the saints, trusting not in ourselves but in the Lord who is our strength. To Him be glory and thanks in Jesus name, amen.
