Today is the 28th

And I need to pray for my family.

• Breaking Down Ungodly Strongholds for my children
• My husband's Self Image
• Change Me Into Your Likeness

I praise You, Father, for my family. Bind the enemy as he tries to get into my children's lives. Show me what needs to be removed from their precious world that may be a foothold for him. Rescue them from evil and draw them to Your kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:18)

My husband is such a blessing to me and I thank you so much for him! Help him to see his value to You, to turn to You for all his needs. Free him from self-consciousness and bless his efforts. Remind him daily who he is in You.

I'm sure I should have prayed "change me" first. You heard me cry out those words recently and I continue to bring you the same verse. Give me strength, the all-I-need, to make the necessary changes in my attitude. Teach me to love, to truly love. Soften my heart. Make me faithful, giving, and obedient.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil

but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts,

always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

- I Corinthians 13:4-8a

Day Five: Strengthen Me to Stand Against the Enemy

The Lord is faithful,

who will establish you

and guard you from the evil one.

- II Thessalonians 3:3

Lord, I thank You for suffering and dying on the cross for me, and for rising again to defeat death and hell. My enemy is defeated because of what You have done. Thank You that You have given me all authority over him (Luke 10:19). By the power of Your Holy Spirit I can successfully resist the devil and he must flee from me (James 4:7). Show me when I am not recognizing the encroachment of the enemy in my life. Teach me to use that authority You have given me to see him defeated in every area.

Reveal to me any place in my life where I am walking in disobedience. If I have given the enemy a place in my protective armor through which he can secure a hook, show me so I can rectify it. Gird me with strong faith in You and in Your Word. Help me to fast and pray regularly in order to break any stronghold the enemy is trying to erect in my life.

Lord, I know that in the midst of the battle I don't have to be fainthearted. I don't have to be afraid in the face of the enemy (Deuteronomy 20:3). Thank You that even thought the enemy tries to take me captive to do his will, You have given me the power to escape his snares completely (II Timothy 2:26). Thank You that You have delivered me from him (Psalm 18:17) and You are my shield because I live Your way (Proverbs 2:7). Help me to "not be overcome by evil," but instead give me the strength to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). Hide me in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of evil men (Psalm 31:20). Thank You that I will never be brought down by the enemy as long as I stand strong in You.* In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

- Ephesians 6:10-18

*Make this prayer your own! From the book, The Power of a Praying Woman. Ordering information is at the bottom of this page. I strongly encourage you to read this book as the chapter content is so powerful!

Today's prayer for your husband: His Affection
Today's prayer for your children: Establishing an Eternal Future

Day 23: His Walk

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

from those whose walk is blameless.

- Psalm 84:11

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"O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). Therefore, Lord, I pray that You would direct my husband's steps. Lead him in Your light, teach him Your way, so he will walk in Your truth. I pray that he would have a deeper walk with You and an ever progressing hunger for Your Word. May Your presence be like a delicacy he never ceases to crave. Lead him on Your path and make him quick to confess when he strays from it. Reveal to him any hidden sin that would hinder him from walking rightly before You. May he experience deep repentance when he doesn't live in obedience to Your laws. Create in him a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within him. Don't cast him away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from him (Psalm 51:10-11).
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Lord, Your Word says that those who are in the flesh cannot please you (Romans 8:8). So I pray that You will enable my husband to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh and thereby keep himself "from the paths of the destroyer" (Psalm 17:4). As he walks in the Spirit, may he bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Keep him on the Highway of Holiness so that the way he walks will be integrated into every part of his life.* In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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(If I have any prayer warriors out there that would do me the honor of adding my husband to your prayers, I would greatly appreciate it. We moved in April & he had to basically start over at his new position, repeating all the training again. He has been very homesick for the town, the job, his friends & coworkers that we left behind. I am very concerned for him because he just seems to be getting more & more depressed. Will you pray for my husband?)
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I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient, bearing with one another in love.

- Ephesians 4:1-2

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*Make this prayer your own! From the book, The Power of a Praying Wife. Ordering information is at the bottom of this page. Leave a comment on any post that is published this week (September 23-29) to enter the GIVEAWAY for one set of The Power of a Praying Wife Prayer Cards!
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Today's prayer for your children: Avoiding Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Addictions

Day 28: Breaking Down Ungoldy Stongholds

You know my folly, O God;

my guilt is not hidden from you.

- Psalm 69:5

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Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil

walks about like a roaring lion,

seeking whom he may devour.

- I Peter 5:8

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Lord, Thank You that You have promised in Your Word to deliver us when we cry out to You. I come to You on behalf of David and Elizabeth and ask that You would deliver them from any ungodliness that may be threatening to become a stronghold in their lives. Even though I don't know what they need to be set free from, You do. I pray in the name of Jesus that You will work deliverance in their lives wherever it is needed. I know that although "we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" (II Corinthians 10:3-5).
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Give me wisdom and revelation regarding them. I know there are areas of enemy operation which I cannot see, so I depend on You, Lord, to reveal these to me as I need to know them. Speak to my heart. Show me how to pray when there is something deep in my spirit that is unsettled, disturbed, or troubled about them. Show me anything that I am not seeing, and let all that is hidden come to light. If there is any action I need to take, I depend on You to show me. Thank You that You help me parent these children.
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Lord, I put David and Elizabeth in Your hands this day. Guide, protect and convict them when sin is trying to take root. Strengthen them in battle when Satan attempts to gain a foothold in their hearts. Make them sensitive to enemy encroachment, and may they run to You to be their stronghold and refuge in times of trouble. May the cry of their heart be, "Cleanse me from secret fault" (Psalm 19:12). According to Your Word, I say that the Lord will deliver them from every evil work and preserve them for His heavenly kingdom (II Timothy 4:18).* In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,

and whatever you bind on earth

will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth

will be loosed in heaven.

- Matthew 16:19

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Call to Me, and I will answer you,

and show you great and mighty things,

which you do not know.

- Jeremiah 33:3

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*Make this prayer your own! From the book, The Power of a Praying Parent. Ordering information is at the bottom of this page.