The Weapon of Prayer

Among the most effective strategies in fighting the spiritual battle is to take up the Weapon of Prayer.

Consider this odd exchange between the crowd, the teachers of the law, a man and his suffering son, Jesus and His disciples:

Mark 9:14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Many people discount the power of prayer and ridicule the spiritual realm of demons and spirits as a sad figment of an overactive imagination. But to downplay the spiritual battle as nothing more than fantasy is to put oneself at danger from the very thing one ridicules. Jesus took the spiritual realm seriously and so should we.

While most of us aren’t called to perform exorcisms or rebuke spirits, it is noteworthy that Jesus’ prayer wasn’t recorded for us to read but was clearly prayed. The power of God was unleashed in the prayer of Jesus to His Father and we know that because the spirit was driven out and it can only come out by prayer.

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by spiritual enemies of discouragement, doubt, anger, thoughts of self-hatred, suicide, or despair, take up the Weapon of Prayer.

weapon of prayer pray for the saints