There is a certain scripture in one of the Psalms of Asaph that always grieves my heart.
“The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle.” Ps. 78:9
The psalmist does not explain why these warriors took flight. Were they fearful? Were they apathetic, or distracted or lazy? Maybe it was all of these; but one thing is for certain. These Ephraimites did not realize that they had powerful weapons in their hands. And, failing to use their weapons, they did not stand together and fight.
Sometimes, as I have pondered about the power of prayer, I have thought that, if we as God’s people truly realized the power of joining together in prayer, we would never want to get up off our knees.
Samuel Chadwick said it so well, “Power is the recompense of prayer. It takes us long to learn that prayer is more important than organisation, more powerful than armies, more influential than wealth and mightier than all learning. Prevailing prayer makes men invincible. Those who prevail in the secret place of the Most High cannot be beaten anywhere…”
Wesley Duewel concurs, “Satan would rather have you do anything but pray. He would have you busy working for God rather than praying to God. More than anything else you can ever do, prevailing prayer has the potential to hinder Satan, to damage his kingdom and to rob him of his human followers and slaves.”
Prayer is the work and the working of any spiritual ministry. Prayer links a powerless human being to the creative forces of the Almighty, sovereign, all powerful God. In prayer we receive vision, wisdom, anointing and breakthrough. Prayer is the weapon we have in our hands.
Something extraordinary happens when people gather corporately to pray. There is a synergy.
“How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight…” Deut. 32:30
Can you imagine the release of power when God’s people throughout a nation join together in one accord with a united, fervent, passionate heart cry?
God is calling His Army in Ireland to stand together shoulder to shoulder. He is calling us not to turn back on the day of battle but to turn the battle back at the gate. He is calling us to stand together and fight.
Written by Ellen Sullivan
Christian Voice Ireland is holding a ‘Day Of Prayer For Ireland’ on Sat 16th Jan from 11am to 2pm. Hope you can join us live on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!
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