7 Prayers That Work

What are you praying against? Today I read Ephesians 5-6. Although the words are very familiar--I have a lot of it memorized--one section jumped out at me. It's where I've been living and struggling. It's time to face the music. The passage introduces a reason and a strategy for defeating everything that's wrong in the world and everything that's wrong inside me. All my anxiety and stress. All my misguided competitiveness. All my pride and confusion. All my "righteous" indignation. I'm reminded who and what I fight against. What I've forgotten to fight against. Reading this liberates and challenges me in my focus. Perhaps it will help you as well... Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world...

Lord, God of heaven and earth, How your heart must grieve over the dissension and hate in the world! You want unity here on earth,  among your children, so the world will know that you are a God of love. Instead, we manifest selfishness , dissent, criticism, and hatred . Create unity in me. I confess my prejudice toward others who don't think like I think. I confess my jealousy and resentment toward others who have more than me. I confess my anger toward others who behave differently than I think they should. I confess my excuses and my blame-shifting of my perspectives and beliefs because I think other people are worse than me. That creates disunity. I want your Spirit to reign in my life, causing love and unity toward all people, regardless of politics, religion, race, economics, or anything else. Create unity in our church. I confess our selfishness because we care more about what church gives us than we do about giving ourselves to mission. I ...