“One source of strength in prayer is remembering and speaking forth past blessings.”

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.  They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Psalm 145: 4-5, 7

David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

1 Samuel 17:37

Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same—yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (The Passion Translation)

Everything you pray for with the fullness of faith you will receive!

Matthew 21:22 (The Passion Translation)

We should never forget what God has done for us. He is faithful, and remembering His goodness can strengthen our faith for what we face today. We don’t have to live in the past to be thankful for it. We can recall the times God has helped us and bring that gratitude into prayer.

Psalm 100 invites us to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. As The Message puts it, “Enter with the password: ‘Thank you!’” When we pray, let’s begin by thanking Him for what He has done and trusting Him with what lies ahead.

Victory Action

 I will praise God for what God has blessed me with in the past and I will pray in faith believing today knowing He still hears and answers prayer.

“The Word works when we work the Word.”

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

Then shall I have an answer for those who taunt and reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, and trust in Your word.

Psalms 119:42 (Amplified Bible)

By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. 

Psalm 119:105 (Message)

Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

Proverbs 4:20 (Message)

God gave us His Word to guide us through life, and He has entrusted us with the responsibility of taking it to heart. When we neglect Scripture, we miss the wisdom and direction He has provided for us.

Putting God’s Word in our hearts takes time and intention. As we read it, think about it, and put it into practice, it shapes the way we live. The effort is worth it.

 Victory Action

Today I will take the time to put the Word of God in my heart through reading and studying the Bible. I will see victory when I stand on God’s Word in faith.

“The action of heaven is waiting on faith on the earth.”

¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:19

¹¹Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

Isaiah 45:11

⁶ Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: ⁷ Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.  For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.¹⁰ And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Luke 7:6-10

In Luke 7, Jesus healed the centurion’s servant without going to his home. He did not lay hands on the servant or pray over him in person. The centurion believed Jesus had authority to heal even from a distance. “Just say the word,” he said, “and my servant will be healed.”

As a commander of soldiers, the centurion understood what it meant to speak with authority. He trusted that Jesus’ authority extended over sickness, too. Jesus marveled at his faith, and when the messengers returned home, they found the servant well. This account reminds us that distance is no obstacle to Jesus’ power. We can take Him at His word and trust His authority.

Victory Action

I will not make God wait on me! I will build my faith through the study of God’s Word. I will step out in faith at His direction. As I do, God will respond to my faith and confirm His Word with signs following.

“When your back is against the wall, try knees on the floor.”

⁵But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. ⁶And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. ⁷And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. ¹⁰And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. ¹⁷Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. ²⁰Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

I Samuel 1:5-7, 10, 17, 20

⁴⁰ But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Acts 9:40

²⁴ Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Acts 16:24-26

When circumstances put pressure on us, we have a choice: give in to fear and frustration, or bring the problem to God in prayer. What is your first response when trouble comes? Do you worry, complain, or look for someone to blame? Those reactions are understandable, but they cannot carry the burden for you.

Whether you’re facing overdue bills, challenges with your children, or a difficult family relationship, make prayer your first response. Find Scriptures that speak to your need, bring God’s Word to Him in prayer, and trust Him with the situation. He is faithful to His Word and will guide you through what lies ahead.

Victory Action

 When I have trouble, I will go to God in prayer first.

“God is mindful of me and my house.”

 

¹²The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. ¹³He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. ¹⁴The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. ¹⁵Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

Psalms 115:12-15

In Charles Spurgeon’s many years at his London church during the 1800s, he loved to preach on the riches of Isaiah 49:16, which says that God engraves us on the palms of His hands. He said, “Such a text as this is to be preached hundreds of times!”

If and when we’re tempted to think that God has forgotten us, we only need to look at our palms and remember God’s promise. He has put indelible marks on His hands for us; He loves us that much. He said He would provide and He will!

 In Charles Spurgeon’s many years at his London church during the 1800s, he loved to preach on the riches of Isaiah 49:16, which says that God engraves us on the palms of His hands. He said, “Such a text as this is to be preached hundreds of times!”

When I think about all God gave to bring me into His family, I find it hard to believe He would ever forget me. If I’m tempted to think He has, I remember His promise: He has engraved us on the palms of His hands. That is how deeply He loves us.

God has promised to provide, and He is faithful. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, He has forgiven our sins and chosen not to remember them against us. Scripture says He watches over His Word to perform it. If He is watching over His Word, I can trust that He is watching over me.

Victory Confession

God will bless my house.  God always has me on His mind.

“When your back is against the wall, try knees on the floor.”

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

I Samuel 1:5-7, 10, 17, 20

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” – Abraham Lincoln

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Too often, we wait until we find ourselves in a desperate situation before we begin to pray. Prayer becomes our last resort when God intended it to be our first response.

Prayer should be a lifestyle. When we develop a consistent habit of spending time with God, our natural response to difficulty begins to change. Instead of immediately focusing on the problem, worrying about what might happen, or trying to figure everything out on our own, our first thought becomes God.

His power to change the circumstances of our lives is unmatched.

Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon, but it is also a place of fellowship with God. As we spend time with Him in prayer, something begins to happen within us: our focus shifts from the problem to the Answer. The situation may still be there, but we are no longer looking at it from the same perspective.

Prayer is also a two-way conversation. We pour out our hearts before God, but we must also take time to listen. As we quiet ourselves in His presence, He can speak wisdom, direction, encouragement, and solutions into our hearts.

We don’t have to pray from a place of fear or desperation. We can pray from a position of faith. Our prayers can be firmly rooted in God’s Word and in the promises He has given us. Instead of rehearsing everything that could go wrong, we remind ourselves of what God has said and trust Him to be faithful to His Word.

When we turn to God first, the enemy’s plan immediately begins to lose its influence over our thoughts. Fear gives way to faith. Confusion gives way to direction. Anxiety gives way to peace. Instead of allowing the circumstances to determine our response, we allow God’s Word to determine it.

So don’t wait until your back is against the wall to discover the power of prayer. Make prayer your lifestyle today.

And when your back does end up against the wall, remember—try putting your knees on the floor.

Give God the first opportunity to move in your life.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

Victory Action

When I face trouble, difficulty, or uncertainty, I will go to God first. Before I worry, react, or try to solve the problem on my own, I will pray, stand on His Word, listen for His direction, and trust Him to work in my situation.

“Don’t focus on how strong the enemy is; focus on how strong God is inside of us.”

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:4

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

                                                                                                                               Colossians 2:15 (Amplified Bible)

First John 4:4 reminds us of a powerful truth: the Greater One lives in us. His strength is our strength. When we are facing pressure, opposition, or spiritual attack, that truth should become the focus of our attention—not the size of the problem or the threats of the enemy.

Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

God never promised that there would never be storms around us, but He has provided a place of peace in the midst of the storm. When our minds remain fixed on Him, our perspective begins to change. Instead of being consumed by what is happening around us, we become conscious of the One who is with us.

And when it comes to God and our enemy, there really is no comparison.

The more time we spend meditating on who God is, what His Word says, and what He has already done, the smaller the enemy becomes in our thinking. The circumstances may not have changed yet, but our perspective has—and that makes all the difference.

Have you ever believed something that wasn’t true and then suddenly discovered the truth? It can feel as though something shatters inside you. Suddenly, you can see clearly. What once seemed convincing loses its power because the truth has exposed the deception. Once you recognize the lie for what it is, it can no longer influence you the way it did before.

That is what happens when we turn our attention back to God and His Word.

The enemy may try to magnify the problem, create fear, or convince us that defeat is inevitable. But when the truth of God’s Word becomes greater in our thinking than what we see or feel, deception begins to fall apart.

We remember: God is with us. The Greater One lives in us. His strength is our strength.

So when the storm is raging, don’t make the storm your focus. Don’t magnify the enemy. Keep your mind stayed on God. Remember who He is. Remember what He has done. Remember what He has promised.

When God becomes greater in our sight, everything else begins to take its proper size.

God is with us—and in Him, we have the victory.

Victory Action

I will intentionally focus my thoughts on God and His Word, reminding myself that the Greater One lives in me and He is bigger than anything the enemy can throw at me. When fear, pressure, or opposition comes, I will choose to magnify God instead of the problem and trust in His strength, peace, and victory.

“Be more persistent than the devil.”

 

¹And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; ²Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: ³And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. ⁴And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; ⁵Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Luke 18:1-5

In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you. Pray at all times with every kind of spiritual prayer, keeping alert and persistent as you pray for all Christ’s men and women.

                                                                                                                        Ephesians 6:13 (Phillips Translation)

In this life, we face an enemy who may seem relentless in his attempts to discourage, distract, and defeat us. But his power is far more limited than he wants us to believe. One of his greatest weapons is deception—trying to convince us that we cannot overcome and that victory is beyond our reach.

But the truth is, Jesus defeated the enemy through His finished work on the Cross. Our victory has already been won. Our responsibility is to stand in that victory and refuse to surrender the ground Christ has given us.

James 4:7 instructs us to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. We are not told to run from the enemy—we are told to stand firm and resist him.

Stay persistent. Keep your heart and mind anchored in God’s Word. Continually declare who you are and what belongs to you through Christ. Refuse to quit when circumstances tell you otherwise.

Victory belongs to Jesus, and through Him, we can walk in that victory every day.

Victory Confession

I will not quit or give up. I will not surrender any ground to the enemy or allow defeat to determine my future. I will stand firm, keep moving forward, and persist in faith until I walk in victory.

“The Word works when we work the Word.”

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 Joshua 1:8  

Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

                                                                                       Joshua 1:8 (Message Translation)

Joshua 1 takes place after the death of Moses, as God prepares Joshua, Moses’ assistant, to lead the children of Israel forward and complete the assignment that had been given to them. God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous and showed him that the key to success and victory was to keep His Word continually before him.

The same principle applies to us today. We must keep our eyes and hearts focused on the Scriptures. As we meditate on God’s Word and put it into practice, our spirits are strengthened and our minds are renewed. The Word helps us recognize God’s will, walk in His wisdom, and move forward with faith and confidence in His plan for our lives.

Victory Action

I have made the decision to study God’s Word, apply it to my life, and live by its truth. Today, I will put the Word into action.