My thoughts keep returning back to months and days before I left for this adventure of the World Race. It keeps racing with the warnings and prayer coverings over our lives and how the enemy of “this” world isn’t happy because Barbarians are being loosed all over the world. Part of this created in us a sense of a warrior mentality, and we easily embraced the idea of “stomping the enemy underneath our feet”.
Mind you, we entered into to it with seriousness and daily prayer covering, but still as I have walked into this journey more, the reality of the enemy as a “lion” looking to devour, and with the sole purpose to steal, kill and to destroy has come to fruition. I have seen and felt the enemy try to intimidate us with fear, steal our identity, kill our joy, devour our energy and sleep, reap confusion, destroy the mind and attack our bodies.
As these occurrences happened a strange thing has been developing. We as “warriors” are becoming more equipped, more aware, more bold, and confident in our power and identity in Christ. With the authority and desire to claim back the woman from the sex industry in Thailand, and to combat the oppression and control over Cambodia it brought our first few months to an awareness of fighting off the “demons” that reign over the areas of these countries. In the Philippians, restless, sleepless nights with disturbing dreams brought us to pray, claim and anoint our rooms in Jesus’ name and to claim His victories for our lives and health. In China, the silence that was required brought to our spirit a huge desire for intercession through prayer, and created in all of us an urgency to walk in an ever present state of silent power, authority and prayer. This reaped a huge benefit when several of us battled a late night of praying. Through interrupted sleep at 1am, the four of us battled the spiritual world for hours to cast out, prayer over, and throw out things that we felt were being controlled by Satan.
“For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those might y powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms”. Ephesians 6:12
This time of fighting brought to us the reality of “who” we were battling, and through power and humility we took back and claimed control and victory.
This time in Africa has released in us even more power, authority, and anointing that many of us have been wanting. We have been released and encouraged to embrace more of the Spirit’s presence of worship, anointing, prophecy, healing and greater power over the spiritual realm. It has been an awe inspiring week to see my brothers in Christ embracing the full power and mentality of being a “warrior” for the King and walking in their true identity and authority as a man of God. I have been brought to tears and celebration as my dear sisters have been able to truly embrace the callings, gifting and revelations that have been ordained over their lives. They have truly come alive in who there “daddy” has created them to be!
This preparation and releasing of God’s power was in His perfect timing as we had to battle this past week of releasing our teammate Sarah L. to go back home as she is supporting her mom and family through her mom’s battle with cancer. The last days with her up raised an abundant amount of authority, healing, peace, and joy. She was released to go home and do battle and bring spiritual healing and blessings there. And yet another combat was right around the corner occurring but days later. This resulted in us having 48 hour prayer vigilance over another one of our dear sisters. As she was struggling against lies, control, oppression, and fear, all 24 of us were covering the twenty four hours of the day with truths, revelations, and blessings over her life. The last night brought an unexpected but necessary three hour prayer battle. Six of us were her spiritual posse, rebuking the spiritual world and bringing her up and out of the enemy’s control. The intensity and reliance on the Lord brought an abundance of prophetic words and truths that led her through claiming worth, love, freedom, and release from many things. Praises all be to God who IS so faithful, loving, and powerful!
As the enemy’s workings have become more apparent and aware to my “spiritual” eyes it has raised in me a huge appreciation for where I am right now and who I am in Christ. I have found myself rejoicing that I have had to come together with my “family” and do battle. And that I have the privilege to pray, and know who my identity and authority comes from. Through these times I have rejoiced out loud that he is using “us” sinners turned saints to battle for His people. I have embraced the words, prayers that he has given me to release and the power that I have over the spiritual world by simply using the name of JESUS. There is excitement in this because I know that I am growing in Him and relying more on Him and that to me is just the beginning of embracing the fullness of His power and life in me.
It became apparent to me this week as I was reading through 1st Peter, that the blog that I have been waiting to write about spiritual warfare needed to be written. It was amazing how easily it flowed and connected with my journey. But what also struck a cord in me was the verse…
“Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” 1st Peter 5:9
So this leaves me with the strong obedience to lift up my brothers and sisters in America and others around the world that is not on this WR journey with me. My time in China was amazing lifting up so many prayers, so I would like to end my thoughts with a prayer, covering over all of us who are diligent and serving Christ with our lives.
“Almighty Father, I come before you and ask that your mighty hand protect and reign over us. I ask that truth, peace, and life be poured out on all of my dear brothers and sisters. Lord, guide us in obedience, grace and love. In Jesus’ name I bind and abolish any plans that the enemy has over these lives and I release blessings, and abundant life. Lord we are here to serve you and I ask that only your voice can be heard as we walk through our days, and decisions are made. I claim authority over all of us so that we know the power that we have through you. Please guide us into this journey where we can claim our true identity and gifting and walk in them! Lord we love you and are so grateful that we are not alone in this world. Jesus thanks for your sacrifice and that we are used as your hands and feet here on earth.”
In Christ’s abundant love, Amen
