How Can You Find Victory in the Battles You Face?
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Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
I want ask a serious of questions this morning, because they are questions that are often asked. Even the title of this message is in question form, “How can you find victory in the battles you face?
What are you battling?
Some struggles are external—such as your finances, job, or health. Others take place within you. Internal enemies of anger, unforgiveness, or inadequacy can hinder your walk with God.
How can you find victory?
Jesus set the example for us the night before His crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord prayed, “If it is possible, let this cup
pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will”
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
After seeking the Father, Jesus was willing to face the cross—even though it meant their perfect fellowship would be severed for a time. Whether you realize it or not, you and I are in a spiritual war. We must stand firm for our
convictions, renew our mind, and resist the Devil.
How is this possible? We fight our battles in prayer and you will win every time.
What does it mean to fight our battles in prayer?
Simply this—that you and I approach our holy God and lay our petitions before Him.
Rather than saying a quick prayer before we run out the door in the morning or fall asleep at night, we must invest time in seeking the Lord’s face and
listening for His answer.
Charles Stanley tells a story about what happened to him in relation to this, he tells it this way, “I first learned this lesson as an associate pastor at First Baptist Atlanta. The church was considering me for the position of senior pastor, but many people were opposed to the idea. They expressed their animosity in hurtful ways and sought to manipulate the situation to assure I would be rejected. God revealed to me that in order to win this battle, I couldn’t argue with them or defend myself. Only by giving the problem to the Lord in prayer was I able to experience victory in that very difficult situation.”
Why should we fight our battles in prayer?
First, it is the biblical pattern. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s servants falling on their faces before the Lord.
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom – When informed by the Lord in a dream to ask for something (1 Kings 3:5-14), Solomon didn’t ask for riches or treasures, but requested an understanding mind so that he could discern good from evil. Pleased by this noble plea, God also granted him riches and honor. We often have our priorities in the wrong order and pray solely for temporal (or temporary) things. If we learn to focus more on spiritual goods, we’ll find that the Lord will also provide for our material needs.
The Tax Collector’s Prayer – One of the simplest, but most eloquent expressions of true contrition can be found in the Lord’s parable of the “Pharisee and the Tax Collector” (Luke 18:9-14). Praying in the temple, without lifting his eyes, this humble sinner prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner”. Direct and to the point, we should make these words our own and pray them every day!
Saul’s Question – Saul of Tarsus (better known as St. Paul) was deeply affected by his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. During the 2nd of the 3 times that he relates this story (Acts 22:4-16), Paul mentions a question that he asked of the Lord. In reality, it is a prayer and one that we should pray frequently. “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10) is something that we should ask God each day. Instead of telling the Lord what He can do for us, it would be nice to ask what we can do for Him. What is Your Will for me, Lord?
Second, when we turn to the Lord, we are no longer battling on our own. We’ve engaged the help of the Sovereign of the universe.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.
He is omnipotent—all powerful; omniscient—all knowing; and omnipresent—present everywhere. No one else on earth can help you more than He can. God acts on behalf of those who wait on Him—spend time in prayer to Him and trust in Him
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
What can you expect if you fight your battles in prayer?
You will have comfort, confidence, and assurance.
There is nothing more powerful than having the Creator of the universe on your side.
The Father encourages us.
When we spend time one on one with Him, His Word and His Spirit lift us up. Prayer gives believers insight we can get no other way. On our faces before Him, we have the clearest view of the challenge ahead of us.
Talking with the Lord changes our focus.
The enemy wants us to dwell on our problem— how we can defend ourselves or get revenge.
Victory, however, is found in turning our eyes to God, the One who controls all things. He blesses those who are willing to trust and obey Him.
Turning to God in prayer gives us supernatural peace.
Believers who turn their burdens over to the Lord have supernatural peace even when situations and circumstances don’t change.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
How can you fight your battles with prayer?
Set aside time to be alone with God.
Find a quiet place and devote yourself to the One who has the greatest ability to help you.
Listen quietly.
The Lord desires to have an intimate relationship with each one of His children. But you will never know Him better unless you are willing to take the time to listen for His voice.
Expect God to bring up other issues in your life.
Before He responds to your cry for help, He may want you to deal with rebellion, unforgiveness, or bitterness in your life. Until you repent and surrender to the Lord, sin will keep you from experiencing God’s best and stop you from enjoying a close relationship with Him.
Remember that in a battle, there can be only one general.
Freely express your desires, but don’t expect God to take orders from you. As you surrender to His guidance, He will engage His supernatural power on your behalf.
Know that battles are God’s tools.
One of the most important lessons the Father has taught me is to see all adversity as coming from Him. This truth will protect you from bitterness, resentment, and hostility towards those who wrong you. Let me explain.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
In a battle, you and I may lose money, pride, or control over a situation. But if the struggle brings us to the point of total surrender to the Lord, we will always win— spiritually speaking.
CONCLUSION:
So now I end where I began by asking you again this question, What are you battling today? Does it seem as if God doesn’t see your pain or understand your heartache? Let me assure you that He knows exactly what you are going through. Go before the Father today and pray, and pray with all sincerity,
“Lord, I don’t want anything in my life that displeases you. Take my bitterness, resentment, and anger. I give You this battle, and trust that You will turn it for my good in Your way and in Your timing.”
My friend, you cannot lose fighting your battles with prayer. Once a day, fall on your face before God and worship Him for who He is. Release your problems to almighty God, and you will find victory every time.