With Halloween at the end of the month, it’s a good time to be reminded of the reality of spiritual warfare. Today’s devotion ties together last month’s focus on prayer to remind us that it is our greatest weapon against Satan and his minions:

IN WORD Imagine a battalion in the heat of conflict without any communication between the field and central command. Some success may be won right there in that spot, but if no one knows where other enemy troops are positioned and no one is coordinating the next move, the gains will be very temporary. Communication is critical in a time of war.
A life that is aware of the spiritual war will wield its God-given weapons liberally—including the crucial communication we need in order to advance. We sometimes act as if we have a shortage of ammunition; we forget that God is our supplier. There is no need—or conceivable reason—to skimp on prayer. It is our only means of communication with central command. It is also our link to the power of God and our only real means to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” as verse 10 tells us.
When we sense the enemy at work and we pray, we are bringing invincible power against invisible evil. Why would we ever use such a weapon sparingly? The only reasons we have—and they aren’t very good—are lack of time, a short attention span, ignorance of how vital prayer is, and similar flimsy excuses. Jesus told His disciples that if they were in Him and He was in them, they could ask whatever they wished and it would be done. If those simple conditions are met, a believer will understand the battle and the critical need for prayer—and its amazing power. If not, our senses are dulled. Prayerlessness is a refusal to wake up.
IN DEED Pray often, pray hard, pray for everything . . . just pray. It is no coincidence that Paul ends a discourse on spiritual warfare with repeated commands to pray. This is where the battle is truly fought—on our knees. Fighting the war without much prayer is like casually strolling into battle with no flak jacket, no gun, and no means of communication. It just shouldn’t happen. Make sure it doesn’t happen today. “Prayer is that mightiest of all weapons that created natures can wield.” —Martin Luther (in “God With Us” by Chris Tiegreen)

The Russia-Ukraine war has shown us how the quality of weapons can change the course of battles. In the spiritual realm, prayer is able to defeat any of the weapons Satan can throw at you, from temptation to lust to trials and outright persecution. Prayer is powerful, not because of our efforts, but because of whom we communicate with, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus will provide us with whatever we need to overcome our enemies, both within and external. Moreover, prayer calls upon the Lord to personally intervene with His omnipotent power.
Do not fear spiritual warfare, but do learn how to pray and “pray often, pray hard, pray for everything . . . just pray.” You will find your life empowered and yourself able to overcome any and all obstacles. If you need help to pray, consider praying through Psalms 110 – 118 this week to understand just how great our God is. Have a blessed week! - from Singapore, Pastor Sam