How to Fight Back When You’re Under Attack

So I did the only thing that came to mind. Tactic No. 2: prayer.

Only, the anxiety didn’t subside.

{Photo Credit: Flickr/Jhaymesisviphotography}

I began texting my mom. And close friends. And my faithful prayer warriors, asking them all to petition God for His peace to transform my soul, for an hour’s worth of energy and for His words to fill my mouth (specifically intelligent, Toastmaster-level ones).

Even now, I can picture the navy club chair I sat in when the slew of returned texts messages filled my iPhone screen.

My eyes watered.

Glorious words of Christ-filled friends who knew just what to say responded with various versions of, “I’ve gotcha covered in prayer, but God’s got this!” That’s when the chest-tightening subsided, and a grin grew lopsided across my face.

Their prayers had reached heavenward.

You can’t fake that.

Not a Holy Spirit enlightening sensation. There’s no other body tingle in the world like the power of the Spirit filling you from within.

I’ll have you know, out of all the times I’ve ever spoken, this Toastmasters event ended up being one of my top two favorite speaking engagements.

You know why?

When I started my seminar, I shared point after point on how to write a book. But between notes, I either shared or read sections of my testimony from my manuscript, showing them how I took a first draft to a final draft, thinking I was making a point on how they could improve their writing, by rewriting and editing and such.

But I noticed something.

When I shared writing tips, they scribbled feverishly along their yellow legal pads. When I shared stories of God’s miracles, the audience leaned in.

{Photo Credit: Flickr/Jesper Ronn-Jensen}

Pens down, heads cocked, this room full of businesswomen and men sat eyes-wide, hungry for a taste of God’s goodness.

And that’s when I realized I wasn’t there to tell them how to write a book.

I was there to slip some Jesus in.

Guess who knew I’d talk about God and miracles and the power of prayer?

The enemy. No wonder I was a mini-mess just hours beforehand. No wonder the visions flitting through my brain were of me failing miserably. No wonder, because the devil hates when we spread God’s message.

Despises it.

He’ll trip us up every time with distractions and fear and self-doubt. He specializes in silencing our voice. A whisper here that others won’t approve, a remark there that we’re not good enough or prepared enough or we’ll never have the financial stability to start this ministry, or fears that our spouse/boss/child will never, or, or, or…

Satan wants to kill.

And destroy.

And steal any bit of good we may do for the Kingdom; steal our hope, our faith, our mind.

And the best way he attempts to silence us is by filling our heads with fear.

Prayer unleashes a supernatural effect we’ll never understand this side of heaven. Sadly, this simple act gets overlooked when we let the hecticness of life get in the way. Don’t. Not this time. What’s on your mind? What’s consuming your thoughts? What’s wrapping your heart so tightly you can’t imagine any way out?

Most have read the verse Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

But honestly, how many times have we skimmed over that powerful word “petition”?

Prayer and petition go hand in hand. Keep asking. Then ask your friends to ask. And then ask again. Christ loves diligent seekers, kind of like the persistent widow in the Bible. Jesus told a story about a woman who pestered a judge so much so that she drove him crazy day and night. He finally gave in just to get rid of her. And this is exactly what Jesus tells us to do: pester, petition, bring in reinforcements like your prayerful friends (Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 18:20).

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve faced a significant obstacle and decided to hop on Facebook, send an email or text, asking friends for support. Later in the day I’d notice that calming sensation and realize it wasn’t until I kept petitioning and invited others to join that God showed up.

Are you on the verge of making a major spiritual decision? Are you involved in or are you considering stepping into ministry? My prayer is that you’ll drive God crazy with petitions. He won’t mind. Actually, Jesus said He wonders how many will have praying faith when He returns (Luke 18:8)?

{If you’ve ever felt under attack and God answered your prayer, will you share your experience with everyone by leaving a comment? Or, maybe you need prayer right now. I’d love to add you to my prayer list. Feel free to anonymously comment below.}

“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1 NLT).

 Dabney Hedegard is the author of When God Intervenes. Visit her at dabneyland.com or on Twitter @dabneyland.