Start Your Day Right with This Powerful 16-Minute Prayer | Morning Prayer — Transcript

Full transcript

1. 0:02Before we pray, let's first take a
2. 0:03moment to listen to God's word.
3. 0:06And then we'll pray together.
4. 0:09There is a battle that begins
5. 0:11>> [music]
6. 0:11>> the moment we open our eyes each
7. 0:12morning,
8. 0:14whether we recognize it or not.
9. 0:17It is not a battle of flesh and blood.
10. 0:20It is not fought with the people around
11. 0:22us,
12. 0:23no matter how much it may feel that way
13. 0:25sometimes.
14. 0:27It is a spiritual battle,
15. 0:29and the sooner we understand this,
16. 0:31the sooner we understand why the Bible
17. 0:34instructs us so firmly to prepare for it
18. 0:37before we ever step out the door.
19. 0:40The Bible tells us plainly
20. 0:42in Ephesians 6:12,
21. 0:46"For our struggle is not against flesh
22. 0:47and blood,
23. 0:49but against the rulers,
24. 0:51against the authorities,
25. 0:53against the powers of this dark world,
26. 0:56and against the spiritual forces of evil
27. 0:58in the heavenly realms."
28. 1:01This verse alone
29. 1:03should change the way we approach every
30. 1:05single day.
31. 1:07So much of what we blame on people,
32. 1:10on circumstances,
33. 1:12on bad luck,
34. 1:13is actually the outworking of a
35. 1:15spiritual struggle happening behind the
36. 1:18scenes.
37. 1:19And if the struggle is spiritual,
38. 1:22then it stands to reason that our
39. 1:23preparation for it must also be
40. 1:25spiritual.
41. 1:28This is why Paul does not simply tell us
42. 1:30to be careful,
43. 1:31or to be strong in our own strength.
44. 1:35He gives us something far more specific.
45. 1:38In Ephesians 6:10-11,
46. 1:42he says,
47. 1:43"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
48. 1:46his mighty power.
49. 1:49Put on the full armor of God,
50. 1:51so that you can take your stand against
51. 1:53the devil's schemes."
52. 1:56Notice the word schemes.
53. 1:59The enemy does not always come with an
54. 2:00obvious attack.
55. 2:02Many times he comes with a scheme,
56. 2:05a plan carefully designed to catch us
57. 2:07off guard,
58. 2:09to trip us up in an area we least
59. 2:10expect,
60. 2:12to use the very things that seem
61. 2:14harmless in the morning
62. 2:15>> [music]
63. 2:15>> to unravel our peace by the afternoon.
64. 2:19I believe one of the greatest mistakes
65. 2:21many believers make is walking into
66. 2:23their day unarmed.
67. 2:26We wake up and we go straight into our
68. 2:29routines, our responsibilities,
69. 2:32our conversations, and our decisions
70. 2:35without ever pausing to put on what God
71. 2:37has already provided for us.
72. 2:40We would never think of walking into a
73. 2:41battlefield without weapons or
74. 2:43protection.
75. 2:45Yet many of us do exactly that every
76. 2:47single morning,
77. 2:49spiritually speaking.
78. 2:51We walk out unprotected and then wonder
79. 2:54why we get overwhelmed by things that
80. 2:56should not have had power over us in the
81. 2:58first place.
82. 3:001 Peter 5
83. 3:01verse 8
84. 3:03gives us a sober warning about this.
85. 3:06It says,
86. 3:07"Be alert and of sober mind.
87. 3:11Your enemy the devil prowls around like
88. 3:14a roaring lion looking for someone to
89. 3:16devour."
90. 3:19The word prowls tells us something
91. 3:21important.
92. 3:23The enemy is not lazy.
93. 3:25He is actively looking, actively
94. 3:27watching, actively searching for an
95. 3:30opening.
96. 3:31If we are not alert, if we are not
97. 3:33sober-minded,
98. 3:35if we are not clothed in what God has
99. 3:37given us,
100. 3:38we become an easy target for a scheme
101. 3:40that has likely already been set in
102. 3:42motion before we even woke up.
103. 3:45This is why putting on the armor of God
104. 3:47cannot be an occasional practice.
105. 3:51It must be a daily discipline, as
106. 3:53regular and as necessary as getting
107. 3:55dressed each morning.
108. 3:58Paul describes this armor in detail.
109. 4:02The belt of truth,
110. 4:04the breastplate of righteousness,
111. 4:07the readiness that comes from the gospel
112. 4:08of peace,
113. 4:10the shield of faith,
114. 4:13the helmet of salvation,
115. 4:15and the sword of the spirit,
116. 4:17which is the word of God.
117. 4:20Each piece has a purpose.
118. 4:23The belt of truth holds everything else
119. 4:25together and protects us from the lies
120. 4:27the enemy loves to whisper.
121. 4:31The breastplate of righteousness guards
122. 4:32our hearts from condemnation and shame.
123. 4:36The shield of faith
124. 4:37is described as able to extinguish every
125. 4:40fiery dart when lifted in faith.
126. 4:43The helmet of salvation protects our
127. 4:45minds from despair and confusion,
128. 4:48reminding us of our identity and
129. 4:49security in Christ.
130. 4:53And the sword of the spirit,
131. 4:55the word of God,
132. 4:56is the only offensive weapon in the
133. 4:58list,
134. 5:00showing us that scripture itself is our
135. 5:02means of fighting back.
136. 5:06Second Corinthians 10:4
137. 5:09reminds us of the nature of these
138. 5:11weapons.
139. 5:12It says, "The weapons we fight with are
140. 5:15not the weapons of the world.
141. 5:17On the contrary, they have divine power
142. 5:20to demolish strongholds."
143. 5:22This tells us that our natural strength,
144. 5:25our willpower,
145. 5:26our determination, however admirable,
146. 5:30are simply not enough for this kind of
147. 5:31warfare.
148. 5:33We need weapons with divine power,
149. 5:36and those weapons are only accessed
150. 5:38through prayer,
151. 5:39through the word,
152. 5:41and through deliberate spiritual
153. 5:42preparation before the day begins.
154. 5:46I I you to imagine for a moment what it
155. 5:48would look like if every believer took
156. 5:50this seriously.
157. 5:53If every one of us treated our mornings
158. 5:55as the moment we suit up for the battle
159. 5:56ahead,
160. 5:58rather than the moment we simply rush
161. 6:00into our schedules,
162. 6:03I believe fewer of us would fall into
163. 6:05offenses we did not see coming.
164. 6:08Fewer of us would be shaken by news that
165. 6:11catches us off guard.
166. 6:14Fewer of us would give in to temptations
167. 6:16that seem to appear out of nowhere.
168. 6:19Because the truth is,
169. 6:21they were never truly out of nowhere.
170. 6:26They were schemes.
171. 6:28And schemes only succeed against those
172. 6:30who are unprepared.
173. 6:32So today, before you step into whatever
174. 6:35this day holds,
175. 6:36before the enemy has the chance to test
176. 6:38an area he has already scouted out,
177. 6:42I want to invite you to do what
178. 6:43scripture instructs.
179. 6:45Let us put on the armor together.
180. 6:48Let us not walk out unarmed.
181. 6:51Let us stand
182. 6:52fully dressed in what God has already
183. 6:54provided,
184. 6:56ready to resist every scheme,
185. 6:58and confident that greater is he that is
186. 7:01in us than he that is in the world.
187. 7:05If you are ready to be clothed in God's
188. 7:07armor before you face today,
189. 7:09then let's pray this prayer together.
190. 7:15Heavenly Father,
191. 7:17I come before you this morning
192. 7:19to acknowledge that the battle I face
193. 7:21today is not against people, not against
194. 7:24my circumstances, and not against flesh
195. 7:27and blood,
196. 7:28but against rulers, against authorities,
197. 7:31against the powers of darkness, and
198. 7:34against spiritual forces of evil that
199. 7:36work behind the scenes of my everyday
200. 7:38life.
201. 7:40Lord,
202. 7:41open my eyes to see this clearly
203. 7:44so that I no longer waste my strength
204. 7:46fighting the wrong battles,
205. 7:48but direct all my energy towards
206. 7:50standing firm in you.
207. 7:52Father,
208. 7:54I ask that you would help me be strong
209. 7:56not in my own power or understanding,
210. 7:59but in you and in your mighty power.
211. 8:02I confess
212. 8:04that on my own I am no match for the
213. 8:05schemes set against me,
214. 8:07but I thank you that I do not have to
215. 8:09fight alone.
216. 8:11This morning, I choose to put on the
217. 8:13full armor
218. 8:14that you have already provided for me.
219. 8:16Lord, I put on the belt of truth.
220. 8:20Gird my waist with your truth today,
221. 8:23and let it hold everything else in
222. 8:24place.
223. 8:26Expose every lie the enemy tries to
224. 8:28plant in my mind.
225. 8:31Let me recognize deception the moment it
226. 8:33appears, whether it comes disguised as
227. 8:35doubt about your goodness, doubt about
228. 8:38my identity in Christ, or doubt about
229. 8:40your promises over my life.
230. 8:43Where there is confusion,
231. 8:45replace it with your truth.
232. 8:47Where there is deceit, replace it with
233. 8:50clarity.
234. 8:51Father, I put on the breastplate of
235. 8:53righteousness.
236. 8:55Guard my heart today, Lord.
237. 8:58Do not let [music] guilt,
238. 9:00shame,
239. 9:01or condemnation
240. 9:03find a resting place within me.
241. 9:06Remind me that I am righteous
242. 9:08not by my own works,
243. 9:10but through the righteousness of Christ.
244. 9:13Let this breastplate protect my heart
245. 9:15from every accusation the enemy brings,
246. 9:18and let it keep me sensitive to
247. 9:20conviction
248. 9:21while shielding me from condemnation.
249. 9:24Lord, I fit my feet with the readiness
250. 9:27that comes from the gospel of peace.
251. 9:29Let my steps today be steady,
252. 9:32not shaken by chaos or conflict around
253. 9:34me.
254. 9:36As I go about my day, I seek to carry
255. 9:38your peace with me,
256. 9:40allowing it to shape every environment I
257. 9:42enter,
258. 9:43every conversation I engage in,
259. 9:45and every circumstance I face.
260. 9:49Father,
261. 9:50I take up the shield of faith.
262. 9:52I lift it high over every fiery dart the
263. 9:55enemy sends my way today,
264. 9:57whether it is fear,
265. 9:59doubt, temptation,
266. 10:01discouragement,
267. 10:03or attack.
268. 10:05I believe your word that this shield is
269. 10:08able to extinguish every one of them.
270. 10:11Increase my faith, Lord,
271. 10:13so that this shield never grows small in
272. 10:15my hand.
273. 10:17Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation.
274. 10:20Guard my mind today.
275. 10:23Protect my thoughts from despair, from
276. 10:25anxiety,
277. 10:26from confusion,
278. 10:28and from every thought that tries to war
279. 10:30against the knowledge of who you are.
280. 10:33Remind me constantly of my salvation,
281. 10:36of my security in you,
282. 10:38and of the victory that is already mine
283. 10:41in Christ.
284. 10:43Father,
285. 10:44I take up the sword of the spirit,
286. 10:47which is your word.
287. 10:49Let your word be alive in my mouth
288. 10:51today,
289. 10:52ready to be spoken against every scheme,
290. 10:54lie, and every attack.
291. 10:57Just as Jesus resisted the enemy in the
292. 10:59wilderness by speaking your word,
293. 11:02let me do the same.
294. 11:04Bring scripture to my remembrance at the
295. 11:06exact moment I need it today.
296. 11:09Lord, I ask that you would help me stay
297. 11:12alert and sober-minded,
298. 11:14watching for the enemy's schemes rather
299. 11:17than being caught off guard by them.
300. 11:20Sharpen my discernment.
301. 11:22Let me recognize temptation before I am
302. 11:24in the middle of it.
303. 11:25Let me recognize deception before I have
304. 11:28believed it.
305. 11:30Let me recognize distraction before it
306. 11:32has pulled me away from you.
307. 11:34Your word tells me that the enemy prowls
308. 11:37around like a roaring lion looking for
309. 11:39someone to devour.
310. 11:41So today,
311. 11:42Lord,
312. 11:43let me not be that someone.
313. 11:46Let me be found watchful,
314. 11:48standing firm in the faith,
315. 11:50resisting him steadfastly.
316. 11:53Father, I pray specifically over every
317. 11:55area of my life that the enemy may be
318. 11:57scheming against right now.
319. 12:00I pray over my mind that no scheme of
320. 12:02confusion, depression, or hopelessness
321. 12:05would be able to take root there today.
322. 12:08I pray over my heart that no scheme of
323. 12:11bitterness, offense, or unforgiveness
324. 12:14would find a place to grow.
325. 12:17I pray over my relationships
326. 12:19that no scheme of division,
327. 12:21misunderstanding,
328. 12:23or strife would be allowed to succeed in
329. 12:25my home, my marriage, my friendships, or
330. 12:29my workplace.
331. 12:31I pray over my finances that no scheme
332. 12:34of lack, fear, or poor decision-making
333. 12:37would be permitted to take hold.
334. 12:40I pray over my health and my body
335. 12:43that no scheme of sickness or weakness
336. 12:46would be allowed to prosper against me
337. 12:48today.
338. 12:49Lord,
339. 12:51I also lift up my family before you this
340. 12:53morning.
341. 12:55Just as I am putting on this armor for
342. 12:57myself, I ask that you would cover my
343. 13:00spouse, my children, my parents, and
344. 13:04everyone under my roof
345. 13:06with this same armor of protection.
346. 13:09Let your truth guard their minds.
347. 13:12Let your righteousness guard their
348. 13:14hearts.
349. 13:15Let your peace steady their steps.
350. 13:18Let faith shield them from every fiery
351. 13:20dart.
352. 13:21Let salvation guard their thoughts.
353. 13:24And let your word be alive and active in
354. 13:27their mouths as well.
355. 13:30Father, I refuse to leave the people I
356. 13:32love uncovered while I stand protected.
357. 13:36Let this armor extend over my entire
358. 13:38household today.
359. 13:40Father, I also pray for the strength to
360. 13:43remain standing even when the day grows
361. 13:45long
362. 13:46and the pressure increases.
363. 13:48Ephesians tells me that after I have
364. 13:50done everything,
365. 13:51I am simply to stand.
366. 13:54Lord, give me the endurance to remain
367. 13:56standing
368. 13:58even in the moments when I feel weary.
369. 14:01Even in the moments when the battle
370. 14:02seems to stretch longer than I expected.
371. 14:06Remind me that standing firm is itself a
372. 14:08form of victory
373. 14:10and that I do not need to strike every
374. 14:12blow myself
375. 14:14because the battle ultimately belongs to
376. 14:16you.
377. 14:18Lord, I ask that you would help me to
378. 14:20recognize the difference between a
379. 14:21person
380. 14:23and the spirit working through a
381. 14:24situation.
382. 14:26When conflict arises today,
383. 14:29help me to remember that my struggle is
384. 14:31not against flesh and blood.
385. 14:34Give me grace to respond to people with
386. 14:36patience and love
387. 14:38even while I stand firm against the
388. 14:39spiritual forces trying to use that
389. 14:42moment against me.
390. 14:44Do not let me mistake a person for my
391. 14:46enemy when the real enemy is working
392. 14:48quietly behind the scenes.
393. 14:51Father,
394. 14:52thank you that greater is he who is in
395. 14:55me
396. 14:56than he who is in the world.
397. 14:59Thank you that this armor is not
398. 15:00something I have to create on my own,
399. 15:03but something you have already provided
400. 15:05in full.
401. 15:08Thank you that I do not walk into today
402. 15:10defenseless. [music]
403. 15:13I believe that as I have prepared myself
404. 15:15in prayer this morning,
405. 15:17I am ready to stand firm against every
406. 15:19scheme the the attempts today.
407. 15:22And I believe that I will stand.
408. 15:24And having done all,
409. 15:25I will still be standing at the end of
410. 15:28this day.
411. 15:30In Jesus' mighty name I pray.
412. 15:33Amen.
413. 15:36I hope this devotion helps you stand
414. 15:38fully armored and ready for whatever
415. 15:40today may bring. If you have any special
416. 15:43prayer requests, we would be honored to
417. 15:45pray for you. Feel free to share them in
418. 15:47the comments.
419. 15:49And if Grace Oasis Ministry has blessed
420. 15:51your life, please consider joining our
421. 15:53Patreon or supporting us through buy me
422. 15:56a coffee.
423. 15:56>> [music]
424. 15:57>> At this time, your support is the only
425. 15:59source of funding for this ministry as
426. 16:02we continue sharing God's word every
427. 16:03day. If you are not able to support
428. 16:06today, that is completely okay. Your
429. 16:09prayers and support means so much to us.
430. 16:11May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ
431. 16:13be with you always. God bless you.