” Your team scenario for tonight is as follows: You are with your team in Cambodia and you notice that there are a number of gods and other pagan shrines that surround your camp. Your team decides they want to do a prayer watch where everyone takes turns staying up and praying throughout the night. Not everyone in your squad has to participate, but there has to be someone up and praying at all times throughout the night. The night watch will begin at 11pm and go until 6am. You can decide amongst yourselves how best to get this done.”
This is what our Squad Mentor read to us on one of our first team scenarios for the night. My initial thought was,
” I have never been tag teamed into the ring when it comes to spiritual warfare.”
It was something that I had known of my whole life, but I had never personally been called into the fight. It’s like I was always on the outside of the ring cheering on the one who was fighting for me. Now I was being called to step in.
I feel as though I’m in the middle of a frenzy. People are throwing ideas back and fourth of how long each block should be, whose doing it, and how many people to a group. Before I know it a decision is made: hour long blocks, and 5 people to a group.
“I think we should let the men rest for their 12 mile hike tomorrow, because it will require a lot from them spiritually, mentally, and physically.”
A resonating yes rises from the squad and we all continue to make the plans for the night with all women prayer groups. A guy from the squad expresses to us women, how much it means that we stepped up and were willing to serve the men so readily. In my mind I think ‘Of course we would do this for ya’ll, because we’re in it together.’ I then think to myself, therein lies the beauty. We’re in this together.
My group is formed and we have the 12am-1am shift. It’s already 9:30 pm, but I might try and catch a few Z’s before it’s time. I open my tent and nap in my warm clothes before I’m called into battle. I’ve always wondered in movies how people sleep the night before a battle because I’ve always imagined I would be wide awake. I come to conclusion they must sleep pretty good because before I know it, I’m zonked out in my tent.
“Alisha it’s time.” I sat up so quick you would think my mom had come home before my chores were done. We march down the hill with our sleeping bags wrapped around us to the pavilion where we eat all our meals. This is it. My final thoughts before entering was, ‘How will I pray for an hour Lord?”
We sit down and begin to share wonderful stories of how the Lord has been speaking to us over the past couple days. One of the girls says, “This is so great that we can share of the Lord’s goodness ,but I don’t want us to lose sight of what we are here for, and it’s to pray. We can’t give the enemy a foothold.” Wow thank you Jesus for Her discernment. I would have never thought of that. Everyone agrees, and we immediately jump into prayer.
” We pray for the men of this squad Lord, that you have brought to us, and it’s no mistake that R squad has the most men. There is purpose in that and I know you will do great things through them. We pray for the women in the hours to come Lord that you would give them strength, and they would pray through the hour with purpose Lord.” The words are flowing from the 5 of us like a strong steady river. It is apparent that the Holy spirit is moving through us, in us, and around us as we lift up the name of Jesus. We don’t go more than 20 seconds without someone confirming what the other is saying by uttering,” Yes Jesus” or someone saying a couple words the Lord laid on their heart. I felt like I was being overtaken by a wave, but I can still breathe steady.
Suddenly I hear more voices beginning to pray. Our watch has ended. The hour is up. I can hardly believe it as I look at my watch and see that we went over time. How Lord? I felt like we were just getting warmed up. It was the hour that felt like 20 minutes. We walk back and briefly discuss how impacted we were by what happened. All of us felt the Lord move in ways we never had before. I remember being worried about to what to pray about for an hour, but I realized that was never my job to come up with the words. All I had to do was make space for the Spirit to work and He did the rest through my teammates and I. We stood united on the battle field in prayer, and scripture. We stood on the word of God that is living and active (Heb 4:12). We picked up our swords, and we fought. We fought well past the dawn and the rising of the sun. It was then I realized; we aren’t called prayer warriors by accident. So I ask you,
Will you stand and fight?
All my love,
Alisha Allen
