REMEMBER YOUR BATTLE CRY
What does a battle cry have to do with putting on the armor of God? And what is our battle cry against evil? Our battle cry is essential for fighting the ever-present enemy of our souls and living victoriously! Today is part 2 in the series The Armor Of God. Let’s talk about our all-important battle cry!
Do you like war movies?
I must admit I like movies with battle scenes. Not the blood and guts and gore and death so much, well not that at all.
I usually watch battle scenes through the cracks between my fingers because my hands are cupped over my eyes. But what I do love about a battle scene, especially from a more ancient time, is the honor and conviction and comradery and good against evil of it all. I love the idea of standing for something bigger than the individual, something worth the cost!
And I love a good battle cry! Often loud and wild and coming from the very core of a person these cries were to sure up ranks and to scare the enemy.
A battle cry is not only effective but essential in battle.
 Last week we looked at the importance of recognizing we are in a lifelong battle for our very souls.
Opting out or sitting on the sidelines is not an option and the enemy we face is real although unseen and behind the everyday activities in our lives!
He is sneaky and has schemes and strategies to take us down! But we are not left helpless, defenseless, weak or defeated We can be victorious warriors!
We are in a five part series called THE ARMOR OF GOD. As Christians, it is vital and life-saving to not only know about the armor God gives us and commands us to “take up” and “put on” but to understand each part and use it every minute of every day!
If you have not read THE ARMOR OF GOD you can find it by clicking HERE.
Last week we read that God tells us to STAND FIRM in the strength of HIS might and to put on the FULL ARMOUR OF GOD. God himself has equipped us for the battle. Actually, Paul says our battle is a struggle which is often translated as wrestle. It is a close and intimate and near war encounter!
We are told to gird our loins with truth, to put on the breastplate of righteousness and shod our feet with the gospel. We are told to take up the shield of faith, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:13-17. Â
But we must not forget another essential part of going into battle. It activates all the other parts and brings down from heaven the gifts we have there ready and at our disposal to be victorious against the enemy of our souls and God himself!
WITH ALL PRAYER AND PETITION PRAY AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THIS IN VIEW BE ON ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND PETITIONS FOR ALL THE SAINTS. Ephesians 6:18
Prayer! Prayer is our battle cry!
Is prayer a hard thing for you to do on an ongoing, consistent basis? I think prayer is a discipline. I’m not at all surprised that prayer can be so difficult for so many.
Just think … Satan surely knows the power it has to defeat him, so it makes sense that he will use his entire bag of trick to make sure we do everything but pray.Â
Without prayer our armor is ineffective. Without prayer, we cannot stand! Without prayer, we cannot see the unseen reality of our situation.
Without prayer we cannot see all the spiritual gifts that are storehoused in heavenly places just waiting for us to access and use to defeat the evil one! Without prayer, we cannot win!
There once was a man of God named Elisha who enraged a great king. So the king set out and at night encircling the city where the prophet of God lived. He came with a great many horses and chariots and an army.
The next morning a servant of Elisha went out and found the chariots and horses and army of Aram, the angry king, completely circling city. The servant ran to Elisha, probably very frightened and filled with anxiety and asked Elisha, “What shall we do”?
Elisha answered, “Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. Â
Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
And do you know what the servant saw? He saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha! 2 Kings 6: 15-17
The servant saw God’s army of heavenly army angels protecting them!
Just like Elisha, we need to pray for God to open our eyes and help us to see beyond the physical everyday distraction of life and see that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them“.
We need to pray for VISION! We need to cry out in prayer just as those ancient warriors did before going into battle! Loud and wild and not just from our core but from the very depths of our spirit!
I want to see this life through God’s eyes. To see the reality of the unseen! To be wowed by how I am encircled by armies and horses and flaming chariots. I want my battle cry of prayer to call down every spiritual blessing and gift and anything I need to stand firm and win the battle against the evil one!
I want to go to war clad in all my Armor, alert and persevering and calling out the battle cry in prayer, OPEN MY EYES!Â
How about you? Do you have a prayerful battle cry? Are you praying in every situation and for every saint? Our prayerful battle cry should be an ongoing conversation from the heart to our Father in heaven!
THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE. Jame 5:16
I’m memorizing Ephesians 6: 13-18 so I can always remember that I am in a battle and God’s instructions on how to be victorious!
THEREFORE, TAKE UP THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE EVERYTHING, TO STAND FIRM.
STAND FIRM THEREFORE, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HAVING SHOD YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; IN ADDITION TO TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH WITH WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING MISSILES OF THE EVIL ONE.
AND TAKE UP THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
WITH ALL PRAYER AND PETITION PRAY AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THIS IN VIEW BE ON ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND PETITIONS FOR ALL THE SAINTS.
WITH ALL PRAYER AND PETITION PRAY AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THIS IN VIEW BE ON ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND PETITIONS FOR ALL THE SAINTS.
Ephesians 6:13-18
If you are looking for a study on THE ARMOR OF GOD here are two great sources…
The Armor Of God- Pricilla Shirer
With services being canceled your Sunday writings are more important than ever. We must rely on one another more than ever for moral support and steadfastness as we confront a new battle. I hope you and all your family remain safe.
Amen, Margo!
Yvonne, thank you for such a beautiful message- that the armies of heaven are encamped about us gives me comfort!
May God bless us all and surround us with His hedge of protection. ??
Praying is very hard most of the times, as it implies a deeper involvement with Him. Currently, it is being a bit easier because of this coronavirus issue. I try to offer what I do to God. I pray to God so that He protects my family, friends, my students, doctors… This health emergency has made me meditate about my life more than ever because I can see people being ill and dying. I can also see those people taking care and assisting patients, showing them all their LOVE.
I feel overwhelmed by the situation. I am sure it’s the right time for God to make us think and change our lives to become better human beings.
Hope God has all of us under His protection. Very inspiring once more. Thanks so, so much!
Big hug from Spain feeling God is with us. The best wishes for you and yours! Take lots of care,
Charo
I just read Remember Your battle Cry. It was so nice to come across this post. Thanks
Thanks Diane! I’m so glad you fond us!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Thank you so much. Your posts are truly inspiring and uplift my soul! In Europe, I’m witnessing the overwhelming devastation being caused by the coronavirus. Please stay safe and take care of your loved ones. We won’t forget the “battle cry”. God bless you all!
Yes, Paula! We all need prayer for this pandemic! Stay safe!
Such a beautiful read and ever so timely. I can remember God placing these verses on my heart years ago to memorize. Thank you for reminding me to make this my prayer daily that I would put on the full armour of God. When the Holy Spirit is within us we have the greatest defense at work on our behalf if we would just remember to breath, pray and praise God! Your blog always touches me and a lot of that comes from your being another Christian woman. From decorating style to your sharing your life reveals that God is at work. I pray you and your family stay safe and healthy!
Hi Jayne, I love “breathe, pray and praise God”!
What do it mean when the Bible say,
Pray in the spirit?
When the Bible says pray in the Spirit it is talking about the Holy Spirit. It means we are to pray with the mind of the Holy Spirit. Pray for the will of God to answer our requests in His perfect way. We are to make our requests known to the Father, but always knowing and being reassured that the answer to our prayers is perfect because it is God’s will for our lives, even if we might not see it.
Thank you for sharing your decorating tips, ideas, and photos, but, most of all thank you for sharing the spiritual insights! They are a blessing!!