God said in Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
“So my word that goes out from my mouth, It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”.
When you pray do you pray using your own words or do you incorporate the Word of God?
In Isaiah 55:11, God stated that His Word that is spoken will not return to Him empty. It is important to note that God specifically mentioned His Word, not the words of individuals. Therefore, when praying, it is recommended to incorporate His word instead of one’s own words. The scriptures represent God’s spiritual laws that govern His Kingdom.
As a citizen of the Kingdom, you are entitled to certain privileges within this realm. Privileges such as divine healing, divine wealth, divine peace and divine protection.
God is dependable and trustworthy. It is stated in His Word that what is spoken by Him will not be without effect. Therefore, when one speaks God’s word in prayer or through declarations of faith, it serves to strengthen God’s commitment to carry out and fulfill His written decrees.
Satan does not tremble at the utterances made in prayers when we pray in our own words. But rather, cowers at the divine Word spoken by faithful followers of God when it is proclaimed with unwavering faith. Engaging in prayers filled with the power of scripture makes one a formidable adversary to the forces of darkness.
Look at what God said to the prophet Jeremiah,
“Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:9-10).
The words of God were imparted to Jeremiah by divine providence before he was able to dismantle, tear down, destroy, and overthrow the efforts of the enemy. When the Word of God is spoken through you, it is more impactful in combating Satan and his malevolent forces than your own words.
Upon examining the accounts of Jesus’ ministry on Earth as recorded in the gospels, one can glean that He possessed a profound understanding of the Scriptures. This enabled Him to effectively confront and overcome Satan during his time in the wilderness. It is noteworthy that, in each instance of their interaction, Jesus responded to Satan by quoting Scripture, affirming, “it is written” (Luke 4:1-13). Jesus exclusively communicated with Satan through the medium of Scripture, underscoring the significance of His mastery of and reliance on the Word of God.
Satan is responsible for hindering you, delaying you and causing cycles of failure in your life. Until you engage him with the scriptures, you will always be one step back from advancing to your promise land.
In order to become a proficient and courageous prayer warrior, it is imperative to dedicate time to thoroughly study the Bible. Just as one would not enter into battle without proper training, all forms of prayer can be considered spiritual warfare.
The Bible is likened to a sword, with various techniques for utilization. It is essential for individuals to be adeptly trained, with the Holy Spirit serving as the most effective instructor for believers.
One of the most impactful prayers in the New Testament can be found in the book of Acts 4:24-31. This prayer, uttered by the disciples amidst persecution, involved the recitation of scriptures (praying the scriptures back to God), and as a result of their fervent prayer, they captured God’s attention. By referencing Psalm 2:1-4, the disciples swiftly gained God’s divine intervention, causing the ground to shake and prompting many to experience an immediate filling of the Holy Spirit.
The prophet Daniel was a powerful prayer warrior because he knew the holy scriptures. Look what He said in Daniel 9:2-3,
“In the first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.”
The prophet Daniel came to an understanding through the reading of the Holy Scriptures (the book of Jeremiah), that His people had sinned. Hence, he set himself apart to pray and to seek the face of God with fasting and he also got God’s attention.
Praying the scriptures will always get God’s attention. It yields better results. It impacts the spirit realm, causing a massive spiritual shake that can tremble the spiritual ground Satan walks on.
Study the Word of God, obey the Word of God, live by the Word of God, pray with the Word of God, and you will experience more victories in your Christian life like never before.
The Bible says “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availed much” (James 5:16).
When we are not in right standing with God or when we have unconfessed sins in our lives, our prayers will not yield much. Rather, the sins in our hearts will attract Satan and demonic spirits to hinder our prayers. Confess your secret sins to the Lord today. Repent from them and watch your prayer life elevate to a higher level.
Author: Pastor Andrew
