Walking According to the Spirit

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

I’m sure you would agree that walking is an extremely important and necessary part of life. In our latest visit to see my mother-in-law in New York, I realized how important it was to be able to walk freely without pain. Not being well physically, she could only walk slowly with a walker, groaning with each step. Getting up and down stairs was nearly impossible to one who has such bad arthritis. She is limited in what she can do or where she can go. We took her all around town so she could get out, but everywhere we went, it took five times as long as it would a healthy person. Her every step was agonizing.

Those who are healthy never realize how easy it is to get around and go places. We never anticipate every step as my mother-in-law does. We ever so casually run here and there without carefully watching our steps. But perhaps she has an important lesson to teach us.

To God, our steps are very important. Just as a new mother trains her toddler how to take his very first steps, God takes extreme care in training us how to walk. He trains us to walk according to His Spirit rather than the flesh. He teaches us how to daily live victoriously according to the Spirit. He wants us to be careful of our every step just as my mother-in-law is. As humans, we all have three parts. We are a spirit, we have a soul that is our personality consisting of mind, emotions, and will, and we live in a body that has five senses (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

What can we learn about our spirit life and walking in the Spirit?

Carefully read the following because it is so important for your daily walk. Understanding and applying this could change your life radically!

What We Became at the New Birth

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

*When we became  a Christian, we became a new creation - The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that all things became new. This means that we received a new legal position, a new nature, and we became the righteousness of God. When we were born-again we received Jesus’ righteousness. Now most of us don’t live this out because if we did, our lives would radically change!

*When we were born-again, our spirit was joined to the Holy Spirit - We can now relate to God who is spirit and have supernatural life. We can now communicate with God, and the Holy Spirit teaches and brings revelation to us. Our true life or spirit man is hidden in Christ. It’s the hidden person of the heart (1 Peter 3:4, Colossians 3:3). Most Christians don’t know and rarely think about who they are in their spirit.

How to walk as a New Person in Christ

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:23-24, New Living Translation).

If you carry a water pot with a gallon of water on top of your head, it becomes very heavy. But if you swim underwater with many gallons of water on your head, it is not nearly so hard to carry. Why? The environment makes the difference. An air environment makes it hard to carry a load, but water is far easier. In a similar way, when we learn to walk according to the Spirit, everything becomes much easier than when we are walking in the flesh.

There are several things we must learn to do in order to walk as a new person in Christ. We must:

*Put on the new man created in righteousness - We must put off the old man and our former conduct (Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:10).

*Walk with a renewed mind - Though our spirit was instantly made new, our mind is progressively renewed through the Word of God. We must understand what the Word of God says about our new nature and partake of this divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We must take heed and have no part with darkness but, instead, be full of light (Luke 11:35-36). This means that we must choose righteousness in every step that we take. 

*See our self as alive to God in Christ (Romans 6:11) - We are indwelt, empowered, enjoyed, and commissioned by God! Even though those sinful desires remain in our body and in our memory, we now have power to challenge the impulse of sin within us. We have the indwelling Spirit to help us. Our spiritually dead person no longer exists. Our old man was crucified at the cross! (Romans 6:6).

*Renew our mind through God’s Word - We are transformed by changing our thinking and renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). We pursue truth that enables us to agree with what the Word says, and we resist darkness. We are set free by knowing the truth (John 8:32). We are renewed in the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:10).  

*Confess the Word as we walk through daily life - We must faith confess the Word back to God. We carry our heart before God by confessing the truth back to Him and His indwelling Holy Spirit. With our mouth we confess truth (Romans 10:8-10). It’s not about confessing the negative lies inside about how we feel, but we confess the truth of what God says. 

*Confess what we believe about who we are in Christ without wavering - We write a check from the wealth of our spiritual bank account within us rather than living as a homeless banker. We overcome by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:10-11). Our mind will follow our confession of faith. It may take time but it will happen if we do not give up. We must hold fast to our confession (Hebrews 10:23, 4:14-16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Corinthians 4:13).   

As we practice ever so diligently our minute-by-minute walk according to the spirit, we experience tremendous spiritual growth. We no longer live according to the flesh (Romans 8:5). Our life shifts from our natural experiences in our physical appetites, senses, and emotions to our spirit man. We are aware that we have been made righteous in Christ. We begin to live more and more according to the Spirit.

We are confident that we are enjoyed by God.

We are aware and dialogue with the indwelling Holy Spirit daily.

We have thankful hearts for everything, especially for the fruit of the Spirit.

We use our authority to stand against the works of darkness in our life.

We live out our God-given purpose and divine assignment commissioned by God.

None of us have learned to live or walk fully according to the Spirit. Some of us are like my mother-in-law, barely able to walk from one place to another. Unable to comprehend or believe our position in Christ, we wobble without victory through life slowly and painfully with a walker or on crutches. We are all somewhere on the journey like the little toddler learning to walk. But there is so much more for each one of us. Our father takes us by His mighty hand and empowers us, bringing us higher and further with each passing day as we learn to walk according to His glorious Spirit.

God is looking for men and women who live according to the Spirit. He is looking for those who will pray Spirit-empowered prayers. They may not be rich and famous from a human standpoint, but they are the ones who will do a mighty work for Him. There is no greater need in our day as believers who know how to walk according to the Spirit, those who know they are empowered by God to do a supernatural task. God’s spirit men and women will be the ones who are used to change the world. They are the ones who will bring the Kingdom of God to earth. 

Perhaps you are one who is carefully watching your spiritual walk, those every day little steps that seem so trivial in the larger scheme of things. Perhaps you are one who one who is saying “no” to the flesh and “yes” to the Spirit in the most difficult of circumstances. You may be praying on the backside of some far-off desert, but your life and prayers are extremely important. You are one who can be used mightily by the Spirit in these days where the anointing and power of God are so crucial to a world that seems to have lost its way.

Your life in the Spirit makes a huge difference. Your Spirit-empowered prayers are critical to our soon coming King. Don’t ever forget that. It’s time for all of us to carefully live and walk according to the Spirit moment-by-moment and day-by-day. There was a unique race in the Greek Olympics where the winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run the race with the flame of my torch still lit, don’t you? Learning to walk according to the Spirit enables us to do this.

“Lord, thank You that I am a new creation in Christ and that when I accepted You in my life, all things became new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thank You that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. Teach me to walk in Your Spirit.  Renew my thoughts and attitudes (Romans 8:5). I want to learn to put off the old man of the flesh and put on the new man created in righteousness (Ephesians 4:22-24). Help me take heed and choose righteousness in each step that I take (Luke 11:35-36).

Teach me see myself as alive in You and indwelt, empowered, enjoyed, and commissioned by God (Romans 6:11). Help me to renew my mind through Your Word. I want my thinking to be transformed and I want to pursue truth and resist darkness (Romans 12:2). Thank You that Your Truth sets me free (John 8:32). I choose to confess Your Word with my mouth without wavering as I walk through my daily life experiences (Hebrews 10:23, 4:14-16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Corinthians 4:13). I know that I am an overcomer by the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:10-11). Thank You that You take me by the Hand and are teaching me to walk according to the Spirit. I praise Your name, amen.”      

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5, NKJV).

  

By Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise

deb@intercessorsarise.org

http://www.intercessorsarise.org

To subscribe to Intercessors Arise, click

intercessorsarise-hamptonroads-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org

Walking According to the Spirit

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

I’m sure you would agree that walking is an extremely important and necessary part of life. In our latest visit to see my mother-in-law in New York, I realized how important it was to be able to walk freely without pain. Not being well physically, she could only walk slowly with a walker, groaning with each step. Getting up and down stairs was nearly impossible to one who has such bad arthritis. She is limited in what she can do or where she can go. We took her all around town so she could get out, but everywhere we went, it took five times as long as it would a healthy person. Her every step was agonizing.

Those who are healthy never realize how easy it is to get around and go places. We never anticipate every step as my mother-in-law does. We ever so casually run here and there without carefully watching our steps. But perhaps she has an important lesson to teach us.

To God, our steps are very important. Just as a new mother trains her toddler how to take his very first steps, God takes extreme care in training us how to walk. He trains us to walk according to His Spirit rather than the flesh. He teaches us how to daily live victoriously according to the Spirit. He wants us to be careful of our every step just as my mother-in-law is. As humans, we all have three parts. We are a spirit, we have a soul that is our personality consisting of mind, emotions, and will, and we live in a body that has five senses (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

What can we learn about our spirit life and walking in the Spirit?

Carefully read the following because it is so important for your daily walk. Understanding and applying this could change your life radically!

What We Became at the New Birth

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

*When we became  a Christian, we became a new creation - The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that all things became new. This means that we received a new legal position, a new nature, and we became the righteousness of God. When we were born-again we received Jesus’ righteousness. Now most of us don’t live this out because if we did, our lives would radically change!

*When we were born-again, our spirit was joined to the Holy Spirit - We can now relate to God who is spirit and have supernatural life. We can now communicate with God, and the Holy Spirit teaches and brings revelation to us. Our true life or spirit man is hidden in Christ. It’s the hidden person of the heart (1 Peter 3:4, Colossians 3:3). Most Christians don’t know and rarely think about who they are in their spirit.

How to walk as a New Person in Christ

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:23-24, New Living Translation).

If you carry a water pot with a gallon of water on top of your head, it becomes very heavy. But if you swim underwater with many gallons of water on your head, it is not nearly so hard to carry. Why? The environment makes the difference. An air environment makes it hard to carry a load, but water is far easier. In a similar way, when we learn to walk according to the Spirit, everything becomes much easier than when we are walking in the flesh.

There are several things we must learn to do in order to walk as a new person in Christ. We must:

*Put on the new man created in righteousness - We must put off the old man and our former conduct (Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:10).

*Walk with a renewed mind - Though our spirit was instantly made new, our mind is progressively renewed through the Word of God. We must understand what the Word of God says about our new nature and partake of this divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We must take heed and have no part with darkness but, instead, be full of light (Luke 11:35-36). This means that we must choose righteousness in every step that we take. 

*See our self as alive to God in Christ (Romans 6:11) - We are indwelt, empowered, enjoyed, and commissioned by God! Even though those sinful desires remain in our body and in our memory, we now have power to challenge the impulse of sin within us. We have the indwelling Spirit to help us. Our spiritually dead person no longer exists. Our old man was crucified at the cross! (Romans 6:6).

*Renew our mind through God’s Word - We are transformed by changing our thinking and renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). We pursue truth that enables us to agree with what the Word says, and we resist darkness. We are set free by knowing the truth (John 8:32). We are renewed in the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:10).  

*Confess the Word as we walk through daily life - We must faith confess the Word back to God. We carry our heart before God by confessing the truth back to Him and His indwelling Holy Spirit. With our mouth we confess truth (Romans 10:8-10). It’s not about confessing the negative lies inside about how we feel, but we confess the truth of what God says. 

*Confess what we believe about who we are in Christ without wavering - We write a check from the wealth of our spiritual bank account within us rather than living as a homeless banker. We overcome by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:10-11). Our mind will follow our confession of faith. It may take time but it will happen if we do not give up. We must hold fast to our confession (Hebrews 10:23, 4:14-16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Corinthians 4:13).   

As we practice ever so diligently our minute-by-minute walk according to the spirit, we experience tremendous spiritual growth. We no longer live according to the flesh (Romans 8:5). Our life shifts from our natural experiences in our physical appetites, senses, and emotions to our spirit man. We are aware that we have been made righteous in Christ. We begin to live more and more according to the Spirit.

We are confident that we are enjoyed by God.

We are aware and dialogue with the indwelling Holy Spirit daily.

We have thankful hearts for everything, especially for the fruit of the Spirit.

We use our authority to stand against the works of darkness in our life.

We live out our God-given purpose and divine assignment commissioned by God.

None of us have learned to live or walk fully according to the Spirit. Some of us are like my mother-in-law, barely able to walk from one place to another. Unable to comprehend or believe our position in Christ, we wobble without victory through life slowly and painfully with a walker or on crutches. We are all somewhere on the journey like the little toddler learning to walk. But there is so much more for each one of us. Our father takes us by His mighty hand and empowers us, bringing us higher and further with each passing day as we learn to walk according to His glorious Spirit.

God is looking for men and women who live according to the Spirit. He is looking for those who will pray Spirit-empowered prayers. They may not be rich and famous from a human standpoint, but they are the ones who will do a mighty work for Him. There is no greater need in our day as believers who know how to walk according to the Spirit, those who know they are empowered by God to do a supernatural task. God’s spirit men and women will be the ones who are used to change the world. They are the ones who will bring the Kingdom of God to earth. 

Perhaps you are one who is carefully watching your spiritual walk, those every day little steps that seem so trivial in the larger scheme of things. Perhaps you are one who one who is saying “no” to the flesh and “yes” to the Spirit in the most difficult of circumstances. You may be praying on the backside of some far-off desert, but your life and prayers are extremely important. You are one who can be used mightily by the Spirit in these days where the anointing and power of God are so crucial to a world that seems to have lost its way.

Your life in the Spirit makes a huge difference. Your Spirit-empowered prayers are critical to our soon coming King. Don’t ever forget that. It’s time for all of us to carefully live and walk according to the Spirit moment-by-moment and day-by-day. There was a unique race in the Greek Olympics where the winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run the race with the flame of my torch still lit, don’t you? Learning to walk according to the Spirit enables us to do this.

“Lord, thank You that I am a new creation in Christ and that when I accepted You in my life, all things became new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thank You that I am the righteousness of God in Christ. Teach me to walk in Your Spirit.  Renew my thoughts and attitudes (Romans 8:5). I want to learn to put off the old man of the flesh and put on the new man created in righteousness (Ephesians 4:22-24). Help me take heed and choose righteousness in each step that I take (Luke 11:35-36).

Teach me see myself as alive in You and indwelt, empowered, enjoyed, and commissioned by God (Romans 6:11). Help me to renew my mind through Your Word. I want my thinking to be transformed and I want to pursue truth and resist darkness (Romans 12:2). Thank You that Your Truth sets me free (John 8:32). I choose to confess Your Word with my mouth without wavering as I walk through my daily life experiences (Hebrews 10:23, 4:14-16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Corinthians 4:13). I know that I am an overcomer by the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:10-11). Thank You that You take me by the Hand and are teaching me to walk according to the Spirit. I praise Your name, amen.”      

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5, NKJV).

  

By Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise

deb@intercessorsarise.org

http://www.intercessorsarise.org

To subscribe to Intercessors Arise, click

intercessorsarise-hamptonroads-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org

Prayers to Strengthen Your Inner Being

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strength you with power through the spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16).

Inner strength - It’s what we all need! In times of change in my own life, I have found that inner strength from God is the only thing that sustains me. We all need strength for daily life, but where do we get it?

When unexpected things happen in your outer life, what sustains you on the inside?

Well, it’s certainly not TV or Facebook. It’s got to be something more, something far deeper. God wants to build spiritual muscles in us that can overcome the world on a daily basis. He wants us to be able to react quickly to adverse circumstances.

We are presently visiting my husband’s family in New York. It was a long, tiring journey just to get here for the holiday weekend, but we finally made it. One day we went out to lunch to celebrate the occasion and were driving back to their country trailer. It looked like the safest place to drive - no cars, good weather conditions, and a beautiful country road. But was it?

Suddenly without any warning a mail car pulled out of a side street right into our lane. My husband, though extremely tired, in a split second veered into the oncoming lane to keep from hitting the car. Fortunately no cars were coming in our direction and we missed hitting the mail car by a fraction of an inch! 

The mailman was not looking. He was probably in a hurry to finish his route because of the holiday weekend. There could have been a big accident. It could have cost us our car, our health, our time, everything. But Norm was alert and able to steer out of the way in a second. He was alert on the inside. He had the INNER STRENGTH AND ALERTNESS to drive carefully on an ordinary day with no foreseen danger even though he was tired. And it paid off.

So many people are like that mailman. They are going through life without carefully watching. They are busy doing things that don’t really matter, things that don’t count for eternity. They foolishly live for today without thinking or preparing for eternity. Perhaps you have neighbors or co-workers just like that. Ones that sit back, eating and drinking, but are unaware of the serious danger ahead. Failing to cultivate their inner spirit in Christ, when hard times come they collapse under the pressure. 

We recently relocated to Kansas City and live 5 miles from the International House of Prayer. Recently major evangelical prayer leaders from around the U.S. led the prayer room for 66 hours. It was fantastic - it brought unity among the denominations  - it united the generations, young and old. These prayer leaders were alert and watchful, so aware of the times we are facing, and it brought courage to the multitudes of young people who are living on this mission’s base.

The young people did the same to the older by contributing so much zeal and enthusiasm in prayer and worship. I am so challenged by the young people here because they are watchful, they are praying (many 4 hours daily), and they are alert to the hour we are living in. The combination of this multi-generational prayer focus brought great strength and momentum to the prayer movement. It brought INNER STRENGTH to everyone!

Yesterday the storm clouds rolled in. At night my husband and I went for a walk, and he took a picture of the turbulent sky across the background of the lush green trees blowing wildly in the wind. It was an ominous sight and quite unusual and unexpected for this time of year. You are I are in serious days where it is absolutely necessary that we build up our inner being in Christ. We read the Bible and know that we are facing the end-times head-on. Storm winds are blowing all over the world. We must be prepared and ready for any unforeseen emergencies that come our way. We must be God’s watchmen in fervent, united prayer.

This is not a time to be alarmed but to be strengthened on the inside. It’s not a time to sit back and watch it all happen before us, but we must strengthen and increase our prayer life. Passivity does not bring peace. We are God’s watchmen in prayer for such a time as this. It’s time to build up our inner being in the love of Christ. Intercessor, it is your greatest hour. You were born for such a time as this. It’s time to rise to the heights and live full lives, full in the fullness of God!

But how do you and I build our self up in our inner being? How can we be strengthened with power?

Prayers to Strengthen You on the Inside

“And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19-20, Message Bible).

The following are prayers you can pray to strength your inner being. I will use the acrostic FELLOWSHIP, because it’s all about fellowship and intimacy with God. This is our highest calling in life. Take hold of this and apply these prayers to your personal life on a regular basis. Build your spiritual muscles that will last, not only for this life, but for all of eternity. These prayers, adapted from Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer, will strengthen your inner being: 

Fear of God - “Lord, release the spirit of the fear of the Lord into my heart. Strike my heart with Your majesty, Your power, Your glory, (name other attributes of God). Unite my heart to Your heart to fear Your name (Psalm 86:11). May my delight be in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:3).”

Endurance - “Father, strengthen my spirit with endurance and patience so that I may do Your will and endure any test that I am facing with Your joy (name any trial that is tempting you to quit) (Colossians 1:11). Direct my heart into the patient endurance of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5). Impart to me Your zeal (John 2:17). 

Love - “Lord, I want to experience Your love. Pour it into my heart and give me revelation of Your love for me. Let it overflow back to You. Direct my heart into Your love (2 Thessalonians 3:5, Romans 5:5), and set me as a seal on Your heart (Song 8:6-7). Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). Teach me to abide in Your love, and help me to abound in love toward others (John 15:9, 1 Thessalonians 3:12).”  

Light of Glory - “Lord, show me the light of Your glory. I want to encounter You on a deeper level. Lift up the light      of Your countenance on me, and cause Your face to shine on me (Psalm 4:6, 80:3). Send out Your light and truth. Let them lead me and bring me to Your holy hill (Psalm 43:3). Open my eyes to see everything from Your perspective.”

One Thing Life Focus - “Lord, I choose to be a person of one thing. I choose to sit at Your feet. Align my life circumstances so that I can keep focused on You. Let me behold Your beauty (Psalm 27:4). Help me to pray Your Word and dialogue with You as I read it. Teach me to mediate and set You always before me (Psalm 16:8).  

Worthy and faithful - “Lord, I want to be faithful to You all my life. Strengthen me to be faithful. Consider me worthy to walk in my highest calling in this age and the age to come (2 Thessalonians 1:11).” 

Sanctify me - “Lord, sanctify me completely. May my spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless without compromise at the coming of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Establish my heart blameless in holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You (Psalm 19:14).”  

Humility - “Lord, I want to learn to walk in lowliness and humility of heart. Teach me humility in my attitudes, my speech, and my actions (Matthew 11:29). I want to consider others as more important than myself and look on their interests. Let Your attitude of humility be in me (Philippians 2:3-6). I thank You for Your wonderful example and bless Your holy name.”

Insight and wisdom - “Lord, I ask for insight into your Word, will, and ways. I want to partner with you in every area of my life including my finances, physical body, schedule, emotions, fears, circumstances, relationships, and future. I pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You (Ephesians 1:17). Fill me with the      knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that I may have a walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:9-10).  

Peace and Joy - “Lord, I pray that you would strengthen me with supernatural peace and joy that overpowers fear and anxiety. May your peace guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Fill me with all joy and hope in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).”

When you feel a sense of alarm because of all that is happening around you, it is not a time to panic. Simply get down on your knees, lay all your concerns before the Lord in an act of worship and surrender, and strengthen your inner man by praying these prayers. Arise strong in God’s Spirit! Out of His glorious riches He has strengthened you with power through the spirit in your inner being. Remember God can do anything!

“God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

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Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise

deb@intercessorsarise.org

http://www.intercessorsarise.org

Prayers to Strengthen Your Inner Being

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strength you with power through the spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16).

Inner strength - It’s what we all need! In times of change in my own life, I have found that inner strength from God is the only thing that sustains me. We all need strength for daily life, but where do we get it?

When unexpected things happen in your outer life, what sustains you on the inside?

Well, it’s certainly not TV or Facebook. It’s got to be something more, something far deeper. God wants to build spiritual muscles in us that can overcome the world on a daily basis. He wants us to be able to react quickly to adverse circumstances.

We are presently visiting my husband’s family in New York. It was a long, tiring journey just to get here for the holiday weekend, but we finally made it. One day we went out to lunch to celebrate the occasion and were driving back to their country trailer. It looked like the safest place to drive - no cars, good weather conditions, and a beautiful country road. But was it?

Suddenly without any warning a mail car pulled out of a side street right into our lane. My husband, though extremely tired, in a split second veered into the oncoming lane to keep from hitting the car. Fortunately no cars were coming in our direction and we missed hitting the mail car by a fraction of an inch! 

The mailman was not looking. He was probably in a hurry to finish his route because of the holiday weekend. There could have been a big accident. It could have cost us our car, our health, our time, everything. But Norm was alert and able to steer out of the way in a second. He was alert on the inside. He had the INNER STRENGTH AND ALERTNESS to drive carefully on an ordinary day with no foreseen danger even though he was tired. And it paid off.

So many people are like that mailman. They are going through life without carefully watching. They are busy doing things that don’t really matter, things that don’t count for eternity. They foolishly live for today without thinking or preparing for eternity. Perhaps you have neighbors or co-workers just like that. Ones that sit back, eating and drinking, but are unaware of the serious danger ahead. Failing to cultivate their inner spirit in Christ, when hard times come they collapse under the pressure. 

We recently relocated to Kansas City and live 5 miles from the International House of Prayer. Recently major evangelical prayer leaders from around the U.S. led the prayer room for 66 hours. It was fantastic - it brought unity among the denominations  - it united the generations, young and old. These prayer leaders were alert and watchful, so aware of the times we are facing, and it brought courage to the multitudes of young people who are living on this mission’s base.

The young people did the same to the older by contributing so much zeal and enthusiasm in prayer and worship. I am so challenged by the young people here because they are watchful, they are praying (many 4 hours daily), and they are alert to the hour we are living in. The combination of this multi-generational prayer focus brought great strength and momentum to the prayer movement. It brought INNER STRENGTH to everyone!

Yesterday the storm clouds rolled in. At night my husband and I went for a walk, and he took a picture of the turbulent sky across the background of the lush green trees blowing wildly in the wind. It was an ominous sight and quite unusual and unexpected for this time of year. You are I are in serious days where it is absolutely necessary that we build up our inner being in Christ. We read the Bible and know that we are facing the end-times head-on. Storm winds are blowing all over the world. We must be prepared and ready for any unforeseen emergencies that come our way. We must be God’s watchmen in fervent, united prayer.

This is not a time to be alarmed but to be strengthened on the inside. It’s not a time to sit back and watch it all happen before us, but we must strengthen and increase our prayer life. Passivity does not bring peace. We are God’s watchmen in prayer for such a time as this. It’s time to build up our inner being in the love of Christ. Intercessor, it is your greatest hour. You were born for such a time as this. It’s time to rise to the heights and live full lives, full in the fullness of God!

But how do you and I build our self up in our inner being? How can we be strengthened with power?

Prayers to Strengthen You on the Inside

“And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19-20, Message Bible).

The following are prayers you can pray to strength your inner being. I will use the acrostic FELLOWSHIP, because it’s all about fellowship and intimacy with God. This is our highest calling in life. Take hold of this and apply these prayers to your personal life on a regular basis. Build your spiritual muscles that will last, not only for this life, but for all of eternity. These prayers, adapted from Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer, will strengthen your inner being: 

Fear of God - “Lord, release the spirit of the fear of the Lord into my heart. Strike my heart with Your majesty, Your power, Your glory, (name other attributes of God). Unite my heart to Your heart to fear Your name (Psalm 86:11). May my delight be in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:3).”

Endurance - “Father, strengthen my spirit with endurance and patience so that I may do Your will and endure any test that I am facing with Your joy (name any trial that is tempting you to quit) (Colossians 1:11). Direct my heart into the patient endurance of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5). Impart to me Your zeal (John 2:17). 

Love - “Lord, I want to experience Your love. Pour it into my heart and give me revelation of Your love for me. Let it overflow back to You. Direct my heart into Your love (2 Thessalonians 3:5, Romans 5:5), and set me as a seal on Your heart (Song 8:6-7). Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). Teach me to abide in Your love, and help me to abound in love toward others (John 15:9, 1 Thessalonians 3:12).”  

Light of Glory - “Lord, show me the light of Your glory. I want to encounter You on a deeper level. Lift up the light      of Your countenance on me, and cause Your face to shine on me (Psalm 4:6, 80:3). Send out Your light and truth. Let them lead me and bring me to Your holy hill (Psalm 43:3). Open my eyes to see everything from Your perspective.”

One Thing Life Focus - “Lord, I choose to be a person of one thing. I choose to sit at Your feet. Align my life circumstances so that I can keep focused on You. Let me behold Your beauty (Psalm 27:4). Help me to pray Your Word and dialogue with You as I read it. Teach me to mediate and set You always before me (Psalm 16:8).  

Worthy and faithful - “Lord, I want to be faithful to You all my life. Strengthen me to be faithful. Consider me worthy to walk in my highest calling in this age and the age to come (2 Thessalonians 1:11).” 

Sanctify me - “Lord, sanctify me completely. May my spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless without compromise at the coming of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Establish my heart blameless in holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You (Psalm 19:14).”  

Humility - “Lord, I want to learn to walk in lowliness and humility of heart. Teach me humility in my attitudes, my speech, and my actions (Matthew 11:29). I want to consider others as more important than myself and look on their interests. Let Your attitude of humility be in me (Philippians 2:3-6). I thank You for Your wonderful example and bless Your holy name.”

Insight and wisdom - “Lord, I ask for insight into your Word, will, and ways. I want to partner with you in every area of my life including my finances, physical body, schedule, emotions, fears, circumstances, relationships, and future. I pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You (Ephesians 1:17). Fill me with the      knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that I may have a walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:9-10).  

Peace and Joy - “Lord, I pray that you would strengthen me with supernatural peace and joy that overpowers fear and anxiety. May your peace guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Fill me with all joy and hope in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).”

When you feel a sense of alarm because of all that is happening around you, it is not a time to panic. Simply get down on your knees, lay all your concerns before the Lord in an act of worship and surrender, and strengthen your inner man by praying these prayers. Arise strong in God’s Spirit! Out of His glorious riches He has strengthened you with power through the spirit in your inner being. Remember God can do anything!

“God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

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Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise

deb@intercessorsarise.org

http://www.intercessorsarise.org