Are you experiencing a time of resistance in your spiritual life? Perhaps ridicule, rejection or persecution from colleagues, friends, loved ones or a family member?
Rejection and accusations coming our way because of our walk with the Lord are always from the camp of the enemy, and it is important for us to see it in that light. Ephesians 6:12 is clear: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Check your heart
The first step is to take great care to make sure that sin has not perhaps opened a door for us to be vulnerable to attack. When we harbour unforgiveness against anyone for whatever reason, we are an open target for the enemy to attack us. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. When we live in right standing with God, Proverbs 26:2 says; like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.
Check your message
The first Church suffered persecution, ridicule and attacks because of their Spirit-filled lives and continuous testimony and bold preaching of the Gospel. Their response to these sufferings is remarkable! Acts 5:41 tells us of their response after being arrested and beaten for testifying of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. This means that one could most likely expect resistance when you openly testify of your life in Christ!
How to pray at such times
Following are some prayers from Scripture to pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I set my heart towards you in prayer. Your Word says that You are a sun and shield; that You will give grace and glory; no good thing will You withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). Therefore, I put my trust and confidence in You alone. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:11). In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. (Psalm 71:1).
FORGIVENESS
Lord, my dishonour is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me, because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, because of the enemy and the avenger (Psalm 44:15-16). As I come before You in prayer, I also acknowledge before You my own weaknesses, and the times I revile and reproach. Please forgive me and help me to forgive others in the same way You forgive me (Matthew 6:12).
SILENCE THE ENEMY
Lord, I pray today that my enemies will come to know and remember You, My Lord and God. Do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore. Let it be said of me, “As the Lord lives, not one of your hairs shall fall to the ground” (2 Samuel 14:11b). I declare that out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger (Psalm 8:2). Therefore I pray, let the voice of the enemy against me, his reproach and revenge be silenced in the name of Jesus.
GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS
I also pray that I may learn to glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. I believe and declare that hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:3-5).
REVEAL YOUR GREAT LOVE
Father, reveal Your great love to each one of my accusers. Silence today every thought of accusation in their minds. Silence their words. Let them seek Your face and grant them peace that surpasses all understanding in Christ Jesus. May the meditation of their hearts and the words of their mouths become pleasing unto You. May they start to meditate on Your plans and purposes for their own lives from Scripture (Ephesians 1:17).
BLAMELESS
Keep me from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let also the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:13,14).
REJOICING IN YOU
While my enemies are before me, I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, o Most High (Psalm 9:2). I declare that my God will deliver me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they are too strong for me (Psalm 18:17). I declare that my God will not deliver me into the hand of the enemy, but You have set my feet in a wide place (Psalm 31:8).
DISCERNMENT
Help and teach me continuously to discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve You (Malachi 3:18). Yes, when I cry out for discernment and lift up my voice for understanding, answer me (Proverbs 2:3). And this I pray, that my love may abound still more and more in knowledge, understanding and all discernment, despite my circumstances (Philippians 1:9). Teach me how to love and bless those who curse me, to do good to those who hate me, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute me. Yes, that I will bless and not curse all the days of my life (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14).
PRESERVE MY LIFE FROM FEAR
God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1). I ask this because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath, they hate me (Psalm 55:3). Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy. (Psalm 64:1).
BLESS AND DECLARE
I bless and declare over those who ridicule, persecute or oppress me: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them, Your servant is warned, and in keeping them, there is great reward. (Psalm 19:8-11).
FOR MYSELF AND THEM
I pray for myself and those who ridicule or persecute me, that we will come to the full revelation and knowledge of Your Word. Strengthen me and them to choose to forgive (Matthew 18:35) and to bless one other (Matthew 5:44). To be willing to suffer wrong, (1 Corinthians 6:7) to display unconditional love (John 3:16), to walk in the truth without any compromise (3 John 1:3), and not indulge in self-pity, hatred, contentions, jealousies or outbursts of wrath, which are the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20).
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
