I have become more and more aware that we are in a battle and that our enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy. But here’s the encouraging thing: Jesus Christ is on our side, and He wants victory in our lives. As the apostle John wrote, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4b).
God doesn’t just want us to sit back and do nothing in response to the devil’s antics. He wants us to fight back by putting on the armor of God (Eph. 6). He also gives us two powerful weapons: praying Scripture and praising God.
One creative method for doing this is to use the “I am” statements that Jesus made about Himself as a method to praise Him. Let me show you what I mean. Below, you will find some sample prayers of praise using the “I am” statements of Jesus. I believe that as you pray prayers of praise using Scripture, the enemy will flee. Why? The bottom line is this: Satan is allergic to the praise of Jesus Christ.
Sample Prayers:
I Am He (John 4:26). Lord Jesus, I praise You that You are He—the Messiah who has come to save me and set me free. I praise You that no weapon Satan has formed against me can thwart Your plan.
I Am the Bread of Life (John 6:35): Lord Jesus, I praise You as my bead of life, the only one who can truly satisfy all my needs. I praise You that You love me completely and that Your love is eternal. Thank You that even when I feel unloved, I can come before You and ask You to fill me with a deeper awareness of Your endless love.
I Am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11): Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are my good shepherd. I praise You that You promise to provide for all my needs, and that You lead me beside quiet waters where my soul can be restored. Thank You that I can trust You through every transition, and that I don’t need to fear because Your intentions towards me are good.
I Am the Light (John 8:12): Lord, sometimes this world feels pretty dark! How I praise You that You came as the light and that Your light always conquers the dark. I thank you that even when Satan tempts me with dark thoughts of discouragement, Your light can brighten my mood.
I Am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25): Jesus, how I praise You that You are able to resurrect any mess in my life. You are willing and able to take dead dreams and breathe new life into them. I thank You that You are continually resurrecting me into the person who You have called me to be.
I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6): Lord Jesus, I praise You that You show me the way to face the truth about all of life. Thank You that when I am willing to face the truth, You are able to bring healing and wholeness in my life. I praise You that You are absolute truth and that I can rest in that.
I Am the Vine (John 15:5). How I praise You, Lord Jesus, that though at times I feel inadequate, You are more than able. I praise You for being the vine and that all I need to worry about is resting in You. Thank You that as I abide and adore You, You will empower me to do the things that You’ve called me to do.
I Am the Living One (Rev. 1:17). I praise You, Lord Jesus, as the living one. I bow down and worship You. I am so grateful that I don’t need to fear death because You are alive. Thank You that I will be able to worship and praise You for all eternity.
Friend, the next time you feel attacked by the enemy, try praising your way through some of Jesus’ I Am statements. As you praise Him for who He is, your faith will flourish and Satan will flee.
I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and let me know which I Am statement is your favorite and why. {eoa}
Becky Harling, an author, certified speaker, leadership coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, is an energetic and motivational international speaker inspiring audiences to overcome their greatest life challenges and reach their full God-given potential. Her most recent book is How to Listen So People Will Talk. Her husband, Steve Harling, is the president of Reach Beyond, a nonprofit organization seeking to be the voice and hands of Jesus around the world. Connect with Becky at beckyharling.com, Facebook or Twitter.
This article originally appeared at beckyharling.com.
