Psalm 145:18 “ The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”.

Praying to God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son with the help of the Holy Spirit, is one of the most powerful weapons we have.  It gives us access to the Master Creator of the universe  who makes himself available to us.  Wow! Can you imagine?  God is not a God who sits high watching us suffer and laughing his head off.   The God who sees us, like Hagar, knows us better than we know ourselves and comes alongside us.  He daily bears our burdens.  He comes closer than our nearest breath and speaks his promises into our bodies, souls and spirits. Jesus encourages us, instructs,  teaches, counsels  and watches over us (Psalm 32: 8).  When we get close to the “I AM”: the Living, Complete God, we get to know his Living Word who gives us the power to understand His written Word.  This heavenly knowledge, wisdom and insight enable us to pray in ways that pull down strongholds in our lives.

Let’s take this moment to stop and reflect on our lives.  Are there any secret, hidden places that we do not want the Spirit of God to access? Why? Are we afraid of the skeletons that will be revealed?  Do we feel like the person in the Stevie Wonder song ‘Skeletons’ worried that all is about to break loose?  Don’t we realize that these skeletons have made themselves into strongholds in our lives? They are crippling us and preventing us from going forward in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 4: 2 reminds us that it is important to renounce secret and shameful ways. Know that God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteous thoughts and behaviours. All we need to do is ask Him.  Do not be afraid to ask Him right now, He is waiting to bring relief to our broken hearts.

Know that dismantling the evil strongholds will not be easy. That is why Jesus came, died and rose in victory for you and me.  Jesus causes us to triumph.  As God’s army recruits we are training & fighting against evil in His battles and wars (Psalm 144:1).  Let us run to God our fortress and make Him our stronghold instead of the shameful things of the past that are preventing us from living up to our full potential in Him. 

Today is the day of salvation and deliverance from the strongholds that keep us imprisoned.  Today is the day that the Lord will help us. Today we will pray to the Lord His own words. We let in His light to uncover the skeletons in our lives removing and pulling down the strongholds within ourselves:

PRAYER
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me…you perceive my thoughts from afar…you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely Lord…Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:1, 2,3,4,23-24)

“I cry aloud to the Lord, I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy…listen to my cry for I am in desperate need…set me free from my prison that I may praise your name” (Psalm 142:1,6,7).

“I spread out my hands to you, my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly O Lord my spirit falls. Do not hide your face from me or  I will be like those who go down to the pit.  Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:6, 7,8).

At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We pray for victory over strongholds in Jesus’ Mighty and Matchless Name. Amen.