1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, where we 3 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 2: help you find the words you need to connect to 4 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 2: your Father in Heaven. 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:21,240 Speaker 1: No matter what's happening in your life. 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 2: Today, you can trust that God wants to hear from you. 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: Right after this short word from our sponsors, we'll pray 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 2: through today's prayer for protection against Spiritual attacks. A Prayer 9 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: for Protection against Spiritual Attacks written by Sophia Bricker, read 10 00:00:54,720 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: by Leah Gerard. Be alert and of sober mind. Enemy, 11 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for 12 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 2: someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, 13 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: because you know that the family of believers throughout the 14 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 2: world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the 15 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: God of all grace, who called you to his eternal 16 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 2: glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, 17 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and 18 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: steadfast to Him be the power forever and ever. 19 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: Amen. One Peter five eight through eleven. 20 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: I treaded cautiously through my backyard, glancing around at the 21 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 2: ivy that hung from the fences. Already I could hear 22 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 2: the low growl in my dog Beauty's throat. Beauty ran 23 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: ahead of me and began barking at the fence and 24 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: action she'd been doing for the past several days. I 25 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: couldn't see anything suspicious and detected no sign of movement. 26 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 2: What was causing her so much distress? As I went 27 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 2: through the routine of refilling water bowls, my dog ran 28 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: toward another part of the yard and started barking again. 29 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: This was an urgent alert, and I hurried to see 30 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: what she'd found. Her growls continued as I bent over 31 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 2: to examine the serpentine material on the ground lay a 32 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: long snake skin that had recently been shed. A snake 33 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: had been in the yard creeping around that I. 34 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: Hadn't seen it. 35 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: I shivered at the thought of a misplaced step, and 36 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: was thankful for the protective barks from Beauty, who received 37 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 2: plenty of head rubs and treats for her discovery. The 38 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: spiritual realm is often like that experience of mine in 39 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: the yard as a teenager, danger lurked despite my eyes 40 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 2: telling me there was nothing there. Likewise, we can't see 41 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 2: that battles going on in the heavenly realms, or how 42 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: the forces of darkness are working in the world, yet 43 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 2: they're present, as scripture tells us, we don't physically perceive 44 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: Satan prowling like a lion ready to pounce, but that 45 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: doesn't make. 46 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: The truth any less real. 47 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 2: Ephesian six to twelve explains, we are not fighting against 48 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities 49 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, 50 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 2: and against evil spirits. 51 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: In the heavenly places. 52 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: That is why we need the armor of God spiritual 53 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: protection to guard us from spiritual enemies and to remain 54 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: steadfast in our faith. We must be vigilant against the 55 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: schemes of our enemy and prepared to mean his attacks. 56 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: The readers of Peter's epistle needed to stay alert to 57 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: the devil because they suffered from persecution. In John sixteen 58 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: thirty three, Our Lord promised that we would suffer in 59 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: this world for following him. However, enduring persecution can leave 60 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 2: Christians vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy, and so 61 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: can the natural suffering that comes from living in a 62 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: fallen world. We can find strength to resist Satan by 63 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 2: recognizing the power of our Lord. Like my dog who 64 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,679 Speaker 2: loyally sought to protect me against the dangers of a snake. 65 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: We have assurance in first John two one that Jesus 66 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: is with us and advocates on our behalf. Any time 67 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: our accuser tries to accentuate our guilt with the stain 68 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: of our sins, Christ stands with his nail scarred hands 69 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: and declares. 70 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: That he has washed us clean by his blood. 71 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: The prowling lion who seeks to destroy cannot stand in 72 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 2: the presence of the lion of Judah, who triumphed over 73 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 2: death see Revelation five to five. 74 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: So we should be watchful as we walk through life, aware. 75 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 2: Of the often unseen danger of spiritual attacks. But we 76 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 2: can also draw encouragement from knowing our Lord is with us, 77 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 2: protecting and strength lengthening us to stand firm against the 78 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: arrows of the evil one. He is greater and more 79 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 2: powerful than any threat we face. 80 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: Let's pray. 81 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: May I not be blind Lord to the reality of 82 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: spiritual forces in the world. Culture and society encourage me 83 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: to believe only in what I can see and touch, 84 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 2: But your word reveals the folly of such thinking. 85 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: The fight of every. 86 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: Believer isn't against people who bear your image, but against 87 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: powers of darkness that seek to enslave and render us unfruitful. 88 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 2: Help me to gird myself with the armor you've provided, 89 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: standing firm in my trust in you. Thank you that 90 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: you are my advocate before the Father, protecting me from 91 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 2: the accusations of Satan. You have cleansed me from sin, 92 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: so that I am declared righteous in the sight of 93 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: a Father. Give me strength, Jesus, as I walked through 94 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 2: this day to live as the new creation you made 95 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: me to be, and to stand and securely on my 96 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: faith whenever that blows from the enemy come. 97 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: I hold on to the truth that you are. 98 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,679 Speaker 2: Greater than the one who is in the world, and nothing, 99 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 2: not even the powers of hell, can separate me from 100 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: your love. Help me to fight with your word against 101 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: the lies of the devil, and to pray for my 102 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters near and far who are also experiencing 103 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: spiritual attacks. In your name, Jesus, I pray Amen. Your 104 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 2: Daily Prayer is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 105 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard today, be sure to 106 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: follow our sister show your nightly prayer. You can find 107 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: your Nightly Prayer at lifeaudio dot Com or in your 108 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: favorite podcast app. By following your daily prayer and your 109 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 2: nightly prayer, you can be sure that your day begins 110 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: and ends centered on the Word of God and prayer.