1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Teach Us to Praise brought to you by Life Audio 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: and is a part of our Faith Toolkit series. For 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: more inspirational faith affirming podcasts, visit lifeaudio dot com. 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 2: Welcome back, friend. You are listening to the Teach Us 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: to Pray podcast, where we teach believers practical and real 6 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 2: life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship 7 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: with God through the power of prayer. I'm Christina Patterson, 8 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: host of the Teach Us to Pray podcast and founder 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: of Beloved Women, where we encourage, equip and empower women 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: in the love of Jesus Christ and the truth of 11 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: God's Word. Today, i want to talk to you about 12 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 2: something that I've been experiencing over the past twelve months, 13 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: and that is spiritual warfare. You know, when we first 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: become believers and accept Jesus Christ into our heart, it's 15 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: easy to want to accept this fairy tale idea of 16 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 2: what it means to walk with Christ, that everything's going 17 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: to go great because we are doing what He wants 18 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: us to do. Everything's going to go our way and 19 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: we will face no trouble or hardship. Now, if you've 20 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 2: known the Lord for more than an hour, I'm sure 21 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: that you can agree with me that it's just not true. 22 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 2: Jesus tells us that he came to give us peace 23 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 2: in this world, but we would still have trouble. We 24 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 2: still live in a fallen world, and if I'm honest 25 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,919 Speaker 2: with you, when we become children of God, his enemy 26 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: becomes ours and we have a target on our back. 27 00:01:53,240 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: The devil is out to still kill and destroy us. Now. 28 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: I know that sounds like a gloomy start to the podcast, 29 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: but I want to give you that truth and follow 30 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: it up with an even better, more encouraging truth that 31 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 2: the victory that we need to overcome any spiritual attack 32 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: on our lives is already given to us through Jesus Christ. 33 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: We are fighting a battle that has already been one. 34 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: James four tells us that if we resist the devil, 35 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 2: he will flee. First Corinthians fifteen fifty seven tells us 36 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: that we already have victory through Jesus Christ. Second Corinthians ten, 37 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 2: verses three through five reminds us that we have the 38 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: power to destroy and demolish strongholds. I love this quote 39 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: from g Jesus in Luke ten seventeen when he says 40 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: I had given you authority to trample on snakes and 41 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. 42 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 2: Nothing will harm you. I've shared with you that I've 43 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 2: experienced some pretty intense spiritual warfare recently, and through all 44 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: of that I can tell you that God used it 45 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: to strengthen me and more importantly, help me understand and 46 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: realize the authority that I have in Christ to combat 47 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: any plan or scheme that the enemy has come against 48 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: me with. And not only that, but that God is 49 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: with me, fighting for me. And the same is true 50 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: for you. God's with you and he is fighting for you. 51 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: But He's also given you every spiritual weapon that you need. 52 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: We don't have to be afraid of spiritual warfare. In fact, 53 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 2: it's the enemy that should be afraid of the authority 54 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: and power that Christ has given us that lives in 55 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: us as believers. During this season of spiritual warfare, I 56 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: spend a lot of time praying, which is what we're 57 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: going to talk about today, how to pray to overcome 58 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: spiritual warfare and why prayer helps us to overcome spiritual warfare. 59 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: But one of the things that God reminded me was 60 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: that a lot of the things that I feared was 61 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 2: the complete opposite of what the enemy feared. I feared 62 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: not being healed. I feared the worst possible scenario happening. 63 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: I feared God not being with me, or abandoning me, 64 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: or just worried about any and everything. And God showed me, 65 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: you know, the enemy doesn't fear those things. The enemy 66 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: fears that will find our healing in God, that we 67 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 2: will overcome this attack and will help others overcome as well. 68 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: The enemy fears that will actually realize our identity as 69 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: children of God and take hold of that and boldly 70 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: proclaim His truth. And I was reminded, you know, maybe 71 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: I need to start thinking like my enemy. Maybe I 72 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: need to start seeing the potential and power and authority 73 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: that God has given me to overcome spiritual warfare, because 74 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: the enemy knows, shouldn't I. Ephesian six shares that when 75 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: we put on the armor of God, we will have 76 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: power to stand against the schemes of the devil. And 77 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: I have an entire Bible study in the Beloved Woman app. 78 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 2: You can download it in the Apple or Google Play stores. 79 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 2: But I have a Bible study. They are called Stand Firm, 80 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 2: and it walks you through how to put on each 81 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: piece of armor in Ephesians six, starting at verse ten, 82 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: each armor of God, so that you can stand against 83 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: the schemes of the enemy, that you can overcome spiritual 84 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: warfare and find victory in Christ. That is rightfully yours, 85 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: I might add. But after we put on the armor 86 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: of God, we are then called to pray. In Ephesian six, 87 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: verses eighteen and twenty, the apostle Paul concludes his teaching 88 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: on putting on the armor of God with these words. 89 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: He says, and pray in this spirit on all occasions, 90 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 2: with all kinds of prayers, and request with this in mind, 91 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: be alert and always keep on praying for the Lord's people. 92 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 2: Pray also for me that whenever I speak, words may 93 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: be given to me, so that I will fearlessly make 94 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: known the mysteries of the Gospel for which I am 95 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it 96 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: fearlessly as I should. Again, that was Ephesians chapter six, 97 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: verses eighteen through twenty, right after the apostle Paul describes 98 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: how we're supposed to put on the armor of God. 99 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: There's a common theme here. I don't know if you 100 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: picked it up, but it's prayer. Pray in the spirit, 101 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: Pray on all occasions, Pray with all kinds of prayers. 102 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: Pray with all kinds of requests. Pray for me, Pray 103 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 2: for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that the 104 00:07:53,000 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: Gospel may be declared fearlessly. Pray, pray, pray, and not 105 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: leave prayer out of our battle against spiritual warfare. We 106 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 2: are called to pray on all occasions and to keep 107 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 2: on praying. So why this emphasis on prayer when it 108 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: comes to spiritual warfare, Because prayer is one of our 109 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 2: greatest pass to victory. And today I want to share 110 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: with you seven reasons why how we can overcome spiritual 111 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 2: warfare with prayer and why prayer is so important during 112 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 2: spiritual attack. First, prayer keeps our connection to God, our 113 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 2: source and our strength. Now, when it comes to an 114 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: actual military strategy, when you have two forces fighting against 115 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: each other, one of the first things your enemy wants 116 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 2: to do is break lines of communication. They don't want 117 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: you to communicate with your team. They don't want you 118 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: to communicate with your allies, with the people that are 119 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: on your side, because if they can cut communication, they 120 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: can put you in isolation and When you are isolated, 121 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: you're more vulnerable. Your enemy does not want you to pray, 122 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 2: so he will distract you with busyness. He will discourage 123 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: you to think that God doesn't hear. He will try 124 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 2: to make you think God doesn't care, that your issue 125 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 2: is too big for God, or that is too small 126 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: for God. And our call in these seasons is to 127 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 2: keep praying anyway, keep those lines of communication open because 128 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: God is your source of strength and power during these times. 129 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: Don't let the enemy cut your power source, your power 130 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 2: line by stopping praying. In said, keep on praying. Keep 131 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 2: that connection to God alive so that you can hear 132 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: from him, so that you can get strategy from him, 133 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 2: so that you can get encouragement from Him that you 134 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 2: will need to overcome spiritual war fear. Second, prayer reminds 135 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 2: us that we are not alone. As I shared before, 136 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 2: the enemy wants to isolate you because he knows that 137 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 2: we're most vulnerable when we're alone. But here's the truth. 138 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: We're never alone. And prayer is a constant and real 139 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: reminder of that truth that God is always with us. 140 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 2: When we are praying, Who are we praying to? We're 141 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 2: praying to God. So our minds are always thinking on 142 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: the fact that God is with me, He hears me, 143 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 2: He's for me. I have someone that I can take 144 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 2: my issues to that can do more with them than 145 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: I possibly can. And prayer reminds us of that that 146 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 2: God's with us and that we're never alone. God did 147 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: not call us to be alone. He knew that we 148 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 2: needed to be in relationship with Him, and we cultivate 149 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 2: that relationship through prayer so that we won't be vulnerable 150 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 2: for attack. Third, prayer helps us to be still. As 151 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: I was going through a season a spiritual attack, I 152 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 2: woke up one morning and God placed this message in 153 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 2: my spirit that is this rest is spiritual warfare. Sometimes 154 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 2: when we're under attack, we want to solve all the problems. 155 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: We want to find solutions to all the circumstances. We 156 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 2: want to do the thing, we want to do something, 157 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 2: and sometimes a lot of times God is saying just 158 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 2: be still. When we pray, we calm our minds and 159 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: our souls, and we give ourselves an opportunity to be 160 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: still before God. Before we go, tell a friend, before 161 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 2: we go, try to figure it out, before we go 162 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 2: to our bank account, before we go to social media 163 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 2: or Google to try to figure it out. When we 164 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: stop to pray, we allow our souls the space to 165 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 2: be still, to surrender to God and let him fight 166 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: our battles for us. And Exodus fourteen fourteen, when the 167 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 2: Israelites were facing a red sea before them an Egyptian 168 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 2: army behind them, God said to them, the Lord will 169 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 2: fight for you. You only need to be still. How 170 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 2: hard is that in our society today to be still? 171 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 2: We have phones, and we're so connected to everyone else 172 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 2: and everything, and everyone has a connection to us and 173 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 2: can access us. But it's when we assess God through 174 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 2: prayer that we can be still and let him do 175 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 2: what we cannot. The enemy is not afraid of what 176 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 2: you can do, but he's afraid of what your Father 177 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 2: can do through you when he knocks on the door. 178 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: Be sure that God is the one who answers. I'm 179 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 2: reminded in Two Corinthians twelve ten that it's in our 180 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:47,320 Speaker 2: weakness that God is strong. The verse says, for the 181 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 2: sake of Christ, then I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, 182 00:13:54,120 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 2: and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 183 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 2: Prayer helps us to exchange our weakness for God's strength. 184 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 2: Fourth prayer helps us to be strategic in our fight. 185 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 2: I shared this in our last episode about how to 186 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 2: pray without ceasing, and that is the fact that we 187 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: can pray about everything, and we should. We have the 188 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 2: opportunity when we're under spiritual attack to get very specific, 189 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 2: down to the minute, down to the molecule, down to 190 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: the cell, to ask God and present to him what 191 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: we need from him, and it reminds us that we 192 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: have help and we're not alone. A few days ago, actually, 193 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: I was really anxious about an issue that I was facing, 194 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 2: and it was presented to me in a way that 195 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: was just matter of fact, this just is what it is. 196 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 2: We're just gonna have to deal with it. And I 197 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 2: remember feeling really discouraged by it, and I had been 198 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 2: working with the Lord about being still, so I took 199 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 2: a nap and when I woke up from the nap, 200 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 2: I was talking to God about feeling really discouraged about 201 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: the situation, and the Lord placed it on my heart. 202 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 2: He said, well, then pray about it, and so I did, 203 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 2: and I felt so much better, even though even though 204 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 2: my prayer wasn't answered, just knowing that I could give 205 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: him that concern. Sometimes when we face spiritual battles, we 206 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: look at the battle like it just is what it is. 207 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 2: It's always going to be what it's going to be. 208 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: This is the prognosis. There's nothing that can be to 209 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 2: change it. But God tells us to pray about everything. 210 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 2: And he's a miracle worker. He is a healer. He 211 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: can bring things in the dark into the light. He 212 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 2: can breathe new life into dead situations. He can do anything, 213 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: and so we should pray to Him about every thing. 214 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: And that's why I love that when it comes to 215 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 2: spiritual warfare, be specific and be strategic about how you pray. 216 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 2: James five sixteen says, therefore, confess your sins to each 217 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: other and pray for each other so that you may 218 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 2: be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful 219 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: and effective. We can be strategic and specific when we 220 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 2: pray because prayer works. Number five. Prayer builds our spiritual muscle. 221 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 2: Here's the thing about growing mature in our relationship with God. 222 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 2: It's not about becoming more independent of God. Spiritual maturity 223 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 2: is marked by becoming more dependent on Him. When we 224 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 2: think about physical growth, we think about growing bigger, right 225 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 2: and growing up and being able to do things on 226 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 2: our own, But spiritual maturity is quite the opposite. Spiritual 227 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 2: maturity requires leaning less on ourselves and more on God, 228 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 2: and there's no better way to do that. Through the 229 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: power of prayer. Number six. Prayer gives us spiritual vision. 230 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: It helps us to cultivate a perspective about our fight 231 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 2: or the battle that we are in, so that we 232 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 2: don't become discouraged or dismayed. And Joshua one nine. God tells, Joshua, 233 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 2: have I not commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do 234 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 2: not be afraid, Do not be discouraged, For the Lord 235 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 2: your God will be with you wherever you go. Listen. 236 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 2: Discourage is real when it comes to spiritual warfare. The 237 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 2: enemy knows that if he can just discourage you, then 238 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 2: he doesn't necessarily have to take away your power, or 239 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 2: your health or your resources. He just has to get 240 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: you to think that you can't do it. He just 241 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 2: has to get you to think that it won't work out. 242 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 2: But God is saying, no, be strong and be courageous. 243 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: And when we pray to God, we can open up 244 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 2: our eyes that are blinded by fear, and we can 245 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 2: start to see things clearly. Prayer gives us eyes to 246 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 2: see things from God's perspective and know that not all 247 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:54,959 Speaker 2: hope is lost. Number seven And finally, prayer helps us 248 00:18:55,000 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 2: to overcome doubt. I was reading this morning about John 249 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 2: the Baptist and how he was proclaiming the way of 250 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 2: Jesus that Jesus the Messiah was coming. This was his 251 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 2: calling in life, and he was doing this until he 252 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 2: was imprisoned. And he's in prison and he starts to 253 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 2: doubt if Jesus really is the Messiah. In Matthew eleven, 254 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: verse three, he sends word to Jesus and he asked 255 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,120 Speaker 2: this question, are you the one who is to come? 256 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 2: Or shall we look for another? It's so interesting how 257 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 2: it's in our dark seasons the enemy will attack us 258 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 2: with doubt. He'll get us to question, is is God 259 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 2: really real? Does he really care about you? Does he 260 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 2: really forgive you? Is he really going to help you 261 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 2: with this situation? And it's hard to see clearly because 262 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: we're just bombarded with hardship and persecution and struggles and accusations, 263 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 2: so we start to doubt. But what I love about 264 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 2: John the Baptist, even though he was tempted to doubt 265 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 2: in his dark season, as all of us are, he 266 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: knew where to take his doubt, and he simply asked, Jesus, 267 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 2: are you the one that simple prayer, that simple communication 268 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 2: to God in your dark season can truly lift you 269 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: up into the light. Jesus graciously answered John, you know, 270 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 2: sometimes when we're doing the right thing, but then bad 271 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 2: things still happen, we really start to doubt, and God 272 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 2: is right alongside us, saying, don't let this dark season 273 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 2: cause you to doubt. Remember the truth that I shared 274 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 2: with you in the light. Because here's the thing. The 275 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 2: truth doesn't change the truth that God loves you, that 276 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 2: He's with you, that He's fervently fighting for you, even 277 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: when it doesn't feel like it. It doesn't matter if 278 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: times are good or bad. That truth always stands. When 279 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 2: we take time to pray, when we take time to 280 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 2: enter the presence of God, we're reminded of that truth. 281 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 2: The enemy has a scheme. We learn that in Ephesian six. 282 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 2: Apostle Paul tells us to put on the armor of 283 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 2: God so that we can overcome the scheme of the enemy. 284 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 2: But God has a plan, and his plan is always 285 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 2: better than any scheme of the enemy. When the enemy attacks, 286 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 2: God has given us the best counterattack, and that's prayer, 287 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 2: our connection to Him that gives us spiritual vision, that 288 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 2: helps us to overcome doubt, that helps us to be 289 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 2: strategic in our fight, that helps us to be still 290 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 2: and let Him fight for us and remind ourselves that 291 00:21:54,480 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 2: we are not alone. Isaiah fifty nine, verse nineteen says, 292 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 2: when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit 293 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 2: of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 294 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: There is no attack that the enemy can throw your 295 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: way that God cannot give you the power to overcome. 296 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 2: And one of the greatest ways that we access that 297 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 2: power is through prayer. Whatever you're facing today, no matter 298 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 2: how weak you feel, even if all you can do 299 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 2: is say Jesus help me today, I want to encourage 300 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: you to keep praying and don't stop. It is my 301 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 2: hope that today's episode has provided you with insight and 302 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 2: helpful tips on how we can pray. We have so 303 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: much more to talk about when it comes to prayer, 304 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 2: so I hope that if you were encouraged by today's episode, 305 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 2: you will share it with a friend and subscribe so 306 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: that you don't miss any future episodes of the Teach 307 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 2: Us to Pray podcast, where we will continue to learn how, 308 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 2: just like breathing, prayer can become a natural, consistent, and 309 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: life giving part of our everyday lives. Until then, be 310 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 2: sure to connect with me at Beloved Women dot org 311 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 2: and check out the show notes to download my free 312 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 2: five day prayer guide. I also want to invite you 313 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 2: to study the Bible with me by downloading the Beloved 314 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 2: Women app, available in the Apple and Google play stores. 315 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for taking time to listen today. 316 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 2: God bless you and I'll talk to you in the 317 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 2: next episode. 318 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: Teach Us to Pray is a production of Life Audio 319 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: and the Salem Web Network. If you enjoyed this episode, 320 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: would you take a minute and leave us a review 321 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: in your podcast app? It really does help more people 322 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: like you find the podcast To hear more from Christina Patterson, 323 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: be sure to check out her fantastic so Beloved Women 324 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: dot org. A special thanks to Kelly Gibbons, Stephen Sanders, 325 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,679 Speaker 1: and Stephen McGarvey for their production and editing on this episode. 326 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: You can find more podcasts like this over at lifeaudio 327 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 1: dot com.