In what ways can we pray for protection from evil influences today? Setting Our Focus on Psalm 140:8 “LORD, do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let their plans succeed—lest they become proud.” (Psalm 140:8) Asking God to Restrain Wicked Schemes - Like David, simply name the evil you see and ask God to shut it down. - Pray that plots which harm the innocent—whether personal, cultural, or global—will collapse before they ever gain traction (Psalm 33:10; Proverbs 21:30). - Invite the Lord to expose darkness so that truth prevails (Ephesians 5:11-13). Pleading for Shielding Grace Around Our Hearts - Ask the Spirit to keep you alert to subtle lies, half-truths, and temptations (1 Peter 5:8-9). - Pray for a pure, undivided heart that instinctively rejects what grieves God (Psalm 86:11; James 4:7-8). - Request a fresh filling of the Spirit so His fruit crowds out every corrupt influence (Galatians 5:16-23). Leaning on the Armor God Provides - Daily put on the full armor (Ephesians 6:10-18): • Truth to expose deception • Righteousness to resist compromise • Peace to silence turmoil • Faith to extinguish fiery darts • Salvation’s assurance to steady the mind • The Word as an active sword against every lie - Finish by “praying at all times in the Spirit” (v. 18), trusting that armor plus prayer is God’s invincible combination. Guarding Gates: Practical Prayer Targets Today - Media & Devices: “Lord, filter what I see and hear; block content that stirs fear, lust, or cynicism.” - Relationships: “Surround me with people who spur me on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24-25). - Work & School: “Hold back agendas that would pressure me to compromise my allegiance to Christ.” - Community & Nation: “Frustrate the designs of those who exploit, traffic, or oppress” (Psalm 146:9). - Mind & Emotions: “Set a guard over my thoughts so that anxious or bitter narratives cannot take root” (Philippians 4:6-8). Standing Together in Corporate Intercession - Join with other believers; united prayer carries amplified authority (Matthew 18:19-20). - Lift persecuted Christians, missionaries, and churches asking the Lord to keep them “from the evil one” (John 17:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:3). - Celebrate answered prayer so faith rises for the next battle (Psalm 40:1-3). Resting in Christ’s Finished Work - Remember, “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). - Jesus already triumphed over every power of darkness at the cross (Colossians 2:15). - Our prayers, rooted in that victory, confidently petition God to keep evil influences from prevailing today. |
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