O Gracious God who guards us  with power,

     We know you have an enemy who hates us because we belong to you, and he is bent on our destruction. Teach us to take responsibility for and confess our sins while keeping our eyes open to recognize when our troubles come from Satan rather than just our own failings.

     Help us understand that any time we feel worthless, we are suffering Satan’s fiery darts. We can be certain of that since all through your Word you assure us we are of great value to you, like a sparkling jewel in your hand. Remind us that when Satan rears his ugly head to point the finger at us he is at his most vulnerable, and that’s when we can resist him. Help us lift our heads and square our shoulders for battle rather than shrinking back in fear and shame. Give us muscle to lift the spiritual weapons listed in Ephesians while we turn to you in faith and prayer. Because you will help us. And when you do, it brings glory to your name. We pray in your name, Jesus, amen.

Supporting Verses:
“. . . who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” I Peter 1:5

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your Adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood through-out the world.” 1 Peter 5:8

“You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” Isaiah 62:7

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Ephesians 6:13 – 18

A final word from, A.W. Tozer, my beloved late father’s favorite author:
“When God allows the enemy to appear in our lives, it is that we may do him irreparable and eternal injury, thus glorifying God! For this purpose, God frequently brings to light in our own lives evils that were concealed, not that they might crush us, but that we might put them out of the way. If not for their discovery and resistance, they might continue to be hidden and some day break out with fatal effectiveness. God allows them to be provoked into action in order to challenge our resistance and lead us into an aggressive and victorious advance against them.”