“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1 NASB)

Prayer is more than just asking God for things. It is the battlefield where we apply our spiritual armor (Eph. 6:10-18). We are at war and prayer is the warfare. When the scripture says that our struggle is “against principalities, powers, . . . rulers of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms,” it’s not talking about pixies! 

We have unseen, but very real and highly trained, enemies who want to prevent us from taking possession of the promises and blessings that are our birthright and inheritance in Jesus Christ. More than that, they want to prevent us from advancing God’s kingdom of light into the darkness they occupy in this world. But, Jesus promised that the “gates of hell will not withstand” the battering of a praying people (Mt. 16:18). 

God will train us to be victorious in this warfare of prayer. We just have to show up for boot camp. Set aside time everyday to study God’s word and to pray. Soon you will find that He has “trained your hands for battle and your arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Ps. 18:34).

© Paul R Downing