Message #2 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Praying for Protection"

by Kaye Johns

When we consider intercessory prayer, it’s a good idea to include the same things that Jesus prayed for. When He prayed for His disciples and the believers who would follow, one of His direct requests was for our protection from the evil one [John 17:15].

While this is important to include as part of our daily prayers, there is a caution. When things go wrong, it’s easy to blame the devil rather than ourselves. Truth is, we have three enemies -- the world, the flesh (or self), and the devil.

Self causes many of our problems. God promises that "He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" [1 John 4:4, NKJV]. We have God’s Holy Spirit in us, if we are His children. His Spirit is always there, yet we’re told we must "be filled with the Spirit" [Eph. 4:19], that we’re not to grieve the Spirit [Eph. 4:30], nor to quench Him [1 Thes. 5:19].

Greater is He Who is in us -- but He won’t show His strength if we grieve Him with unconfessed sins, or quench Him with disobedience, or if we fail to allow Him to fill us and live the abiding life through us day by day. Self, our flesh, makes those choices. Our old nature, which was crucified with Christ [Gal. 2:20], puts up a fight before it dies completely. And when that old sin-nature is in charge, Satan doesn’t have to bother to keep us out of the will of God.

It’s not only protection we need to ask for, but discernment, and hearts that are willing to yield.

Pray with me now -- Father, we ask protection from Satan, but first we need protection from self. Forgive us for not wanting to let go, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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