What does it mean to pray to release the armies of God?
Lorraine Marie Varela points us to a familiar verse from the book of Ephesians.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
When we pray for God to release his armies, it’s not always in a physical sense, but a spiritual sense.
“I see it as a military strategy, The Holy Spirit reveals the strategies of God to our hearts as we’re yielded to Him. He gives us the prophetic declarations that are united with His purposes, so this is the beginning of our ability to help pull down the strongholds.”
When we engage in prayer, we engage in spiritual warfare. Without prayer, we should question if we are really fighting at all.
Before we can engage in battle with the Devil, we must first submit ourselves to God. Submit is a military term that means to get back in rank. We can’t really engage in spiritual warfare and prevail in any way with stuff in our hearts that we’re not dealing with.
If we want to come before the Lord and engage in spiritual battle, we must be in right relationship with Him.
“One of the first things we do when we approach is say, search me oh God and know my heart, try me and see if there is any anxious thought. Release those fears and those things that are holding us back from just walking in unison with him and then just come into alignment with what he wants to release through us as we pray.”
Lorraine Marie Varela is the author of and a professional photographer. She has traveled to the Middle East and lives near Seattle, where she and her husband help lead a Foursquare Messianic congregation.
Key Scripture: Isaiah 11
Featured Songs: Give Me Jesus – Jeremy Camp; Sing on the Battlefield – Kathryn Scott; Hands That Are Holding Me – Meredith Andrews
Seven prayer strategies
