It is written – This was how Jesus confounded and kneecapped Satan in the wilderness when the wily one showed up to tempt Him, as read in the Gospel. He used scripture verses to win the temptation battle. Every act of Jesus while He was a human being is meant to be an example for us, His followers. Scripture even refers to Jesus as The Word that became Flesh.
We cannot keep on crying to God for power to vanquish the enemy in our daily battles and temptations when the power we need is gathering dust and we are the ones not utilizing it effectively. We must not diminish the case for understanding the Word and using it to diffuse the enemy’s empty threats and promises to us.
May I add that there is also no way to understand the Word just by reading it; one has to pray for understanding and enlightenment prior to reading. This takes on added importance when we recall that Satan’s tricky questions to Jesus were also quoted from scripture, albeit with a wrong bend to them. We therefore cannot attempt to understand the Word with our own limited processing capacity. We need Divine help to understand what God wants us to get from it.
Apostle Paul affirmed this power of the written Word in his description of God’s Armor in Ephesians 6:10-18, pointing out that the Sword was the Word of God. As is often noted, the sword is the only weapon of attack in the Godly Armor. Helmet/salvation, shield/faith, girdle/truth, breastplate/righteousness and sandals/gospel of peace are worn on the body as protective/defensive gear but it is the Sword of the Word that actually cuts and wounds the enemy. ‘For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword ‘- Heb. 4:12
The inference then is that without the Sword-Word, one would constantly be in a defensive position, moving the shield of faith about to deflect blows and attacks from spiritual wicked powers. It is also pertinent to point out that Paul says we receive the Sword of God/Word from the Spirit; this reinforces the requirement to pray that the Spirit gives us understanding prior to reading scripture.
It is only in recent years that I have, by God’s Grace, come to appreciate the power of directly praying with scripture, and it is my earnest prayer that every follower of Christ comes to that realization too. A perpetually defensive position will eventually wear the fighter out. We have been given a sharp tool, and an example from the Master Himself. May our eyes be open to this power available to us and may we always have the wisdom and courage to use it as needed.
Below is one of my favorite scripture prayers which I try to use daily for my family. It is based on Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (3: 14-20). 4 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
My scripture prayer goes: I kneel before You Father, from whom my family derives its name. In Your mercy, kindly strengthen us out of Your glorious riches with power through Your Spirit in our inner beings, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. May we, being rooted and established in love, have power, together with all the elect, to understand how wide, long, high and deep Christ’s love is for us; and to know about this love that surpasses any knowledge in the world – so that we can be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to You who is able to do infinitely more than I am asking or imagining for my loved ones, according to Your power at work in us, (the same power that raised Jesus from the dead), to You be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever, Amen. Be it done unto us according to Your Word. Amen.
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 