“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
God helped me realize recently that the devil will work to make me offended by people or upset with them so that I will not pray for them.
When was the last time you tried praying for someone who made you mad? It is not easy! When you’re upset the last thing you’ll ever think is, “I need to pray for this person.” Right? But God helped me realize that the person who upset you needs prayer because it usually means the devil and his evil angels are influencing that person to hurt you. It’s rarely a human’s complete fault that they’re acting in a destructive way. The Bible says “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities…” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV).
Oftentimes, it’s the devil’s evil spirit or his evil angels influencing the person who hurt you, to hurt you. Maybe, in some cases, a person really is just out to get you without help from the dark side. But whatever the case, it’s important to remember that we all need prayer because whether we realize it or not, and whether we are Christians or not, we are all in the heart of this battle between good and evil. The good news is that if you’re following Jesus Christ through life and You’ve accepted Him into your heart then you are on the winning side. This means you will be victorious because in the end, good (God) wins. The Bible book of Revelation shows us that the devil and his demons will be destroyed by God. Jesus will return to Earth and take His faithful followers home to Heaven where we all will live happily ever after in the presence of our Savior and Eternal King.
So while we’re here on Earth and bound to be offended or hurt by someone once or more in our lifetime on this planet, what can we do about it? The Bible says to wear the full “Armor of God” so that we can effectively combat the enemy’s tactics and emerge victorious with God’s help.
Let’s read what Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) says about being battle-ready, “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Did you read that last line? We need to pray for all believers everywhere on this Earth. It’s not enough to only pray for ourselves. We need to pray for each other because we’re all in this battle together. Praying for each other helps us become encouraged in the Lord because God made us for community. We are not meant to go through life alone. What better way to brighten someone’s day and restore hope in their hearts than to pray to God on their behalf?
Next time you feel offended by somebody, remember this lesson point: They are not your enemy. Pray for them. You don’t have to pray out loud. It’s better to pray for them silently in your head while in their presence than maybe out loud when you’re in your prayer closet. When you wake up every day, ask God to give you the grace to pray for everyone you encounter and ask for the words to say in every situation. When you’re upset it’s nearly impossible to be gracious if you haven’t prayed previously. But it is possible to let the Holy Spirit give you the words to say and know what to do in every situation.
Finally, listen to the song “Pray On” by Babbie Mason to become battle-ready.
Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank You for always being there for us. Thank You for fighting our battles for us. Help us to remember that with You on our side we will be victorious. Teach us how to be battle-ready every day. Help us to remember that you made all humankind, You love us all and You want us to pray for each other no matter how we feel. Forgive us of our sins. Help us to obey You every day in every way. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/gorodenkoff
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Originally published Friday, 17 November 2023.
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