Lord, I am not particularly adept at avoiding the prickly snare of hate and blame cast by my enemy. How my self-preserving nature desires to retaliate in kind when offense is wrought unto me. May the emanation of Your divine grace cover me like a betrothal canopy, reminding me who I am and to whom I belong. There is such beauty in Your promises of forgiveness as carried out upon the cross. Lord, keep me in the shadow of its remembrance even beyond the days when I approach the King’s table to take of the bread and drink of the fruit of the vine in remembrance of You, Jesus. Pull me closer to the revelation of Your Spirit in me. Make me stand upon the foundation of Your promises rather than the feel the necessity to assert my personal rights. Though I oftentimes must engage in battle with others, only You can temper my responses with grace and desire to reflect love which glorifies truth. When others have tagged me an enemy, Lord Jesus, let me not position myself as if I was one. Instead, help me show how there is one enemy that stands against all truth, one enemy that devours souls and despises unity, one enemy that remains lurking behind a person’s deceived gaze so that he remains hidden from their blinded blame – Satan and his demonic minions which take full advantage of the temporary license given them to wreak havoc on creation. Until such a time as You see fit to revoke that license and bring Your perfect plan to completion, Lord God, grant me the armor necessary to recall who I am truly fighting against in this world. Under the mighty Word given in Ephesians 6:10-12 and the authority of Christ Jesus, I bow in humble prayer, granting You the full use of my sword.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12, NIV