Strength #6—Strengthening Prayer

Because faith does not characterize everyone, pray that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. Fortunately, the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:2–3

It seems obvious that not everyone acknowledges and trusts God. So why bring it up? We need to be reminded because the strength to engage evil people and their mentor, Satan, comes in answer to prayer. The prayer of those strong in faith will result in the restoration of those weak in faith. We must pray for one another and for ourselves, because prayer connects our faithfulness with the faithfulness of our God. Both our ability to cling to God during a storm of abuse and our expectation that Satan will not destroy us depend on God’s answers to prayer. When we remain faithful to Christ as a result of prayer, that answered prayer strengthens our certainty of God’s trustworthiness and causes us to love him more. The God who raised Jesus from the dead will strengthen those who hope in him. Knowing that the risen and reigning Jesus intercedes for us is also comforting. The Evil One tries to convince us that God is not for us, that he is not able to secure his promises, and that what he has promised is worthless. But the cross and the empty tomb vindicate his love, his power, his goodness, and his faithfulness, as do answers to prayer. So we are strongly encouraged to pray and to expect strength for the battle.

How glad I am, O Lord, that you are a prayer-hearing God, for I need a stronger heart and protection from Satan’s darts. Move me to put on all my armor, so I can stand firm.