Day 38. Spiritual Warrior’s Prayer

(Thursday)

Level 1: (5 Minutes) As you breathe deeply today, focus on where you have seen goodness dissolve hurts.

Level 2: (10 minutes) Do Level 1. After Reading the scripture adaptation, take 5 minutes to highlight words or phrases.

Adapted from Ephesians 6:10-18. Finally, help me to be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Help me to put on the full armor of God that I may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, help me to take up the full armor of God to enable me to resist the evil of today, and having done everything, to stand firm. Help me to stand firm, having girded my loins with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod my feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. In addition, I take up the shield of faith with which I am able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And I take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition, I pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, I remain on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. I do all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Level 3: (15 minutes) After pausing to breathe and reading the Scripture prayer, take 5 minutes to write about how you feel about the phrase that most challenges you in this Scripture.

Level 4: (30-60 minutes) Talking about “the spiritual forces of wickedness” requires

boldness. However, I think evil is a force that is way beyond normal rebellion. While some try to understand evil, I am in the camp that says we need to put on God’s armor every day to combat evil. I think any attempt to domesticate evil is like Odysseus asking to be tied to the mast so he could hear the beautiful seductive music while his crew had their ears blocked. Would love to hear what the rest of this Beloved Community feels.

We are celebrating Holy Thursday tonight at 7 p.m. at Peterborough United Methodist Church, in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and everyone is welcome.