Strike Again!

Often times as believers, we are tempted to wonder why we are yet to see answers to the prayers that we have been praying.  We may be concerned about what direction to take, we are worried about our future goals and plans, our destiny, purpose and calling.  In light of such, we tend to labour in prayer for a release of our blessings and deliverance but at times we cannot help but to wonder, why is it taking so long? Has God heard my prayer? 

I want to remind us that it often takes a battle/ fight before victory can be had.  We see the account of Daniel in Daniel 10:12-13, (Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.) when Daniel sought the Lord, the Lord heard him but the prince of Persia blocked the answer to Daniel's prayer.

I want to encourage you that, from the first day you've prayed earnestly and penitently, God heard you but you may just be in the same situation like Daniel, where the prince of the air has blocked the answer to your prayer.  This is where we now have to prevail in prayer.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 declares, "Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]."

Have you been persistent in prayer?  It often takes a prevailing and persistent effort in prayer to birth our desired breakthroughs, deliverance and blessing.

A Prevailing Effort Will Require Us To Strike AGAIN!

Let us not get tired too quickly and discouraged that we tend to give up in the heat of battle.  Remember, that your enemy, the devil is very subtle and he never cease from launching his attacks and carrying out his assignments.  The prayer you prayed last month, last week or yesterday may very well set the pace for spiritual warfare in your spiritual atmosphere but since you've set the atmosphere, have you kept up the momentum unto victory or you've stopped praying since?

Where Is Your Bow & Arrow? It's Time To Dust Them Off!

2Kings 13:14-19 stated, "When Elisha was in his last illness, King Joash visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! You are the strength of Israel!” he cried. Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did. “Open that eastern window,” he instructed. Then he told the king to put his hand upon the bow, and Elisha laid his own hands upon the king’s hands. “Shoot!” Elisha commanded, and he did. Then Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, full of victory over Syria; for you will completely conquer the Syrians at Aphek. Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the floor.” So the king picked them up and struck the floor three times. But the prophet was angry with him. “You should have struck the floor five or six times,” he exclaimed, “for then you would have beaten Syria until they were entirely destroyed; now you will be victorious only three times.” 

Here, we see where Joash, the King of Israel was gonna go up to battle with Syria and he sought instruction from the Prophet, Elisha.  He was told to look to the east and shoot.  The first time that he shot the arrow, the prophet told him that it is the ARROW OF VICTORY.  King Joash only shot three times and so the prophet Elisha told him that if he has shot five or six times he would completely destroy his enemies but because he only did so thrice, he will only be victorious three times.

I want you to picture yourself holding onto that bow and arrow having received an instruction like that one.  A bow and arrow is a weapon of war physically, but in the realm of the spirit, your prayers are your bow and arrows. 

It is time to strike again! The one time that you've strike will only allow you to have victory over your enemies just once.  

This time as a mouthpiece of God, I give you the COMMAND, I give you the SANCTION to shoot, because it is the arrow of the Lord's deliverance concerning you!

Hallelujah! Glory to God!

Your deliverance, your breakthrough, your blessing is tied to your obedience to divine instruction.  

Go ahead and shoot your bow and arrows (prayer) and prevail against the enemy!

Shalom, shalom!