Spiritual Warprayer

For a lark, my son entered a bodybuilding competition as a novice. As a strapping 27-year-old, he was in good shape, but nothing compared to that required for competition. I admired his resolve and discipline as for four months he carefully monitored what he ate and subjected himself to the rigors necessary for specific muscle development. Surprising even himself, he earned second place in the competition.

While we might make parallels between bodily discipline and the discipline of ourselves for godliness of which Paul speaks in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, that's not where we're headed. My wife was torn in how to pray for my son in regard to the whole thing. Should she pray that he would win or at least make a good showing? Should she pray for... That's just it. She drew a blank.

Recognition of the dimension of spiritual warfare provided the answer to her prayer efforts. Spiritual warfare takes into account that we have an enemy, who opposes God, who courts the lusts of the flesh, often through the wares of the world. How would that recognition inform my wife's prayers? She could pray against Satan's efforts to make an idol of our son's physical appearance and the workout regimen his religion. She could pray against pride and other gravitational pulls of the flesh to lift up self over God. She could pray that the Spirit would work in him a profound gratitude and recognition of the goodness of God who formed him in her womb. Of course, she could also pray for similar resolve in his discipline of himself for godliness.

You see how it works. Bringing the dimension of spiritual warfare to our prayer lives opens the vista of the dangers posed by even the good things of life. It fleshes out specifics to the petition, "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil," as we would seek first the kingdom of God, His glory, His goals, His grace. The next time you pray for something ask yourself what you need to pray against, knowing our enemy the devil crouches at the door of the heart seeking spiritual detriment.