Sharon JaynesMarriage, Prayer, Prayer/Spiritual Warfare 18 Comments

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV)

It was a beautiful, crisp February morning when my new fiancé Steve and I traveled from our college town to his family’s home to announce our engagement. The night before, God had decorated His creation with a dusting of snow. All of nature looked as if it were dressed for a wedding.

After the grand announcement and a warm meal, we headed back to school. The day had warmed and melted most of the snow, but nightfall brought freezing temperatures and slick roads. As we neared our school, we began descending a hill and encountered a patch of ice. The tires hit the slick surface, and the car spun out of control.

“Steve! We’re headed straight for that car,” I cried out, as a set of oncoming headlights shone through the windshield.

Seeing there was nothing he could do, Steve took his hands off the steering wheel and cried out, “Oh, God! Save us!”

One second we were headed directly toward an oncoming car. The next, we were sitting off the side of the road in a ditch, facing the opposite direction — with our bodies pinned safely back against our seats.

“How did we miss that car?” I asked. “Where did it go?”

Shaken, Steve replied, “There’s only one answer to those questions: God.”

God. He is our Protector in time of trouble (Psalm 18:3), our Shield in times of danger (Proverbs 30:5) and our Fortress in times of attack (Psalm 91:1-2). Not only that, God promises to command his angelsconcerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).

God protects us not only in the physical realm that we can see, but also in the spiritual realm against forces we can’t see. The Bible says, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

A spiritual battle rages around our relationships as the devil attempts to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). He would like nothing better than to destroy marriages — what God has established as an earthly reflection of Christ’s love for the Church. The devil sets traps of danger and destruction in the path of God’s people in hopes of catching us unaware and ill-prepared. Be ready. Don’t let him win.

Only God can fully protect our marriage and our spouse. And He invites us to participate in unleashing His power through prayer. Through prayer, the enemy’s plans are intercepted; the principalities and authorities are defeated.

When I pray for my husband, I pray Scripture over him from head to toe. As I pray for his back, I pray for his protection in the physical and spiritual realm with the assurance that no weapon formed against him will succeed. (Isaiah 54:17) Today, I invite you to join me in praying for your husband. If you’re single, pray for the important men in your life.

Dear Lord, just as the prophet Elisha was confident that the warring angels surrounding him were greater than the enemy who sought to do him harm, I pray my husband will be confident that Your power surrounding him is greater than anyone or anything that might seek to do him harm. Even though he may not see Your mighty host, reassure him he’s under Your protective care. Hem him in — as you go behind and before him. Rescue him from danger, and protect him from harm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: Psalm 139:5, “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” (ESV)

2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (ESV)

 

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Comments 18

  1. Sharon.
    I’d like to share my story as I read your blogs. I’m praying for my husband but we’ve been separated since mayor 2017. See I got sick in July 2016 and he thought I brought it on myself somehow. I mean from fully functionally to bedridden mentally and physically sick. Doctors searched and I went through many tests and surgeries and many emergency rooms. Only after months or so I figured out with friends that were doctors that I had reactions from not only a over the counter product for hot flashes but also from prescription medications that were pushed on me when they didn’t know what was wrong. Long story I had to slowly taper off medicines and was acute for many months and at 6 months off all feelbetter but not completely healed yet. God has been great as I left to spare my husband to go to my sisters and he basically locked me out of my home and I had to go to a friend me for 6 months. Still not working and homeless I’ve had to use my little savings and go back for mediation and court.

    My husband saw me and told my sister I looked better than last 2 years but he’s going forward with divorce. He told her he still thinks my sickness was nonsense as the docs never diagnosed cancer or a disease and basically it hasn’t come out in public that these prescriptions can cause 38-60% of people to be deathly ill like me with no medical help or support. When I did find people to help me at my friends house get through the withdrawals and taper I had to pay thousands of dollars as little was covered by my insuranse.

    But my husband thinks he was the victim. I am praying for him and our marriage and praying I can forgive him but I think the devil has won him. Please pray for me and him and I will continue with your help. I can’t afford to buy any of your books yet but I read what’s free.

    Stranger angels have shown up to help me the last 9 months as I have struggled to have a place to live and eat with only a suitcase till recently. I’ve seen how God has worked just at the right time to provide. It still doesn’t stop me from wanting to continue to heal and be able to work and get a job and be independent again. But I want my marriage too and pray for it.

    I also want to help other people who have lost their families, homes and everything going through siniliar reactions with these drugs that were prescribed. They should be off market and people need to beewarned and help for those of us suffering for many months or years. I want to raise awareness and help people but need to completely heal first.

    Thanks for listening. Ironically I never was on any medicines before this and never will again trust any as now I’m chemically sensitive. I used to sell Pharma. Not again.

    Praying for myself and my husband. Thanks for all.

    Gods peace,

    Andrea

  2. Thank You Sharon for the reminder for us to pray for our husbands. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 New International Version (NIV)

    3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

  3. Thank you for this reminder. I thank God for my husband every day, but I do not always pray specifically for him. I am going to do that now.

  4. Thank you for sharing your hair-raising experience with us. It really touched my heart, as, like you, I experienced a similar situation. I was driving to work, & I hit a patch of black ice. My car went sliding back & forth, completely out of control. It finally stopped when it ran into a pole & was turned upside down. I hung there by my lap belt. Immediately, I prayed “God, send someone to help me, send someone to help me. Right at that moment, there was a person (angel?) on either side of the car, reaching in to set me free. I was amazed & in awe, as I hadn’t seen anyone else on the road, when I went out of control. I’ll always know that these two people were sent by God to rescue me. (Oh, & also was not injured but for a tiny cut above my eye.) Thank you God for saving me & Sharon.

  5. Like honey to the honeycomb are your words, Sharon….God has such an anointing on you. I have shared your GIG sight to many of the women I work with here at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne Indiana. I would love to hear you speak and keep looking for something that might be closer..I have been praying your prayer over my husband since I got it. Love N Prayers to you.. God is sooooo good!!!!

  6. Just what I needed, as I came in from Bible study I asked where my daughter’s dog was, in a snippy, exasperated time she replied “in his room” I apologized and went to my room. In my room I not only prayed to soften her heart but to soften mne. I do not know what could have happened while I was gone but whatever it was made her in a mood.

  7. Thank you for your words of encouragement. The enemy has bern strong trying to destroy our marriage & I need to remember to pray for my husband daily. Dear Lord protect me from the enemy & bound my tongue when it wants to lash out. In Jesus Mighty Name amen

  8. July 27 1993 I went to pick-up take out for dinner right after a storm. My 3 year old begged to sit in the front. I let him. I was distracted by him trying to play with buttons over corrected on the wet pavement and started fish tailing. Just when I thought I had it under control the car did a 360. I cried out “Oh God. Help us”.took my hands off the wheel and covered my son with my body. Steven didn’t have a scratch I was bruised but went home that night. The car had to be lifted onto a flat truck. We hit a telephone pole on the drivers side door. It was a small grand am and it was bent in half . we were fine..God is good

  9. Thank you so much for these truths about spiritual warfare. We all need to be reminded it not against flesh and blood though it may seem so sometimes. It seems I have been under attack more lately and I am just standing on the Truth of Gods Word.

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