by Joyce Meyer
As we deal with the “Peters,” the “Delilahs,” and the “Felixes” in our lives, we need to remember that people are not actually opposing us. In reality, our opposition comes from the realm of darkness that wars against us—the realm over which Satan is ruler. The Bible reveals, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV). People are not our enemies—Satan is. We must learn to love people while we resist the evil one who attempts to work through them. Pray and ask God for spiritual keenness so you can always be discerning in these matters. The simple power of prayer can save us all kinds of time and trouble if we will ask God to give us wisdom and discernment in our relationships!
The simple power of prayer can save us all kinds of time and trouble if we will ask God to give us wisdom and discernment in our relationships!
SUMMARY
One of Satan’s most often used and most successful tactics against God’s people is to wear us out—to cause us to get tired and weary as we fight the good fight of faith. God wants us to stay strong, and one way we accomplish that is through a vibrant prayer life. When you sense a need, “don’t delay, pray right away!” We need to pray that God will keep us alert and on the lookout for the wearing-out schemes of the enemy and that He will give us strategies to overcome every devilish plot against us.
The enemy will try to wear us out by keeping us so busy and stressed that we become physically exhausted; he will steal our zeal; he will try to keep us from praying and he will cause us to get tired of doing good. He will also send people into our lives who operate from wrong spirits so that he can drain us, deceive us, or otherwise knock us off God’s plan for our lives. As we stay in communion with God through prayer, we will be able to receive His wisdom and hear His voice, and this will enable us to gain victory over the enemy.
Prayer Points
• We have a slow, subtle enemy who gradually wears us down and wears us out so that we will not have the strength or the desire to accomplish what God has called us to do.
• We need to pray that we will quickly recognize Satan’s various wearing-out tactics against us.
• Some of the ways Satan seeks to wear us out include: wearing us out physically, stealing our passion and enthusiasm, robbing us of time to spend in prayer and in the Word, and causing us to grow weary in well doing.
• According to 1 Peter 5:9, we must resist the enemy at his onset and make sure we remember that we are not alone in our sufferings.
• We must be watchful and prayerful concerning our relationships and pray that God will increase our discernment so that we can avoid people with wrong spirits.
• We need to watch out for “Felixes,” “Delilahs,” and “Peters,” who may be the enemy’s tools to drain us, tempt us, or oppose God’s plan for our lives.
In Closing . . .
I trust your prayer life has been strengthened and your communion with God has been deepened as a result of this book. I hope you have come to realize how simple prayer really is and to experience the power of simple, believing prayer in your everyday life. I trust that you are developing and enjoying a rich lifestyle of prayer and that you are more confident now than ever that your prayers do make a difference.
I want to encourage you to continue asking God to teach you how to pray, knowing that there is always a new level of spiritual maturity to be gained and that the effectiveness of your prayers can always increase. I am praying for you, believing that God has great things for your life and that you will continue to grow in your relationship with Him. God loves you and wants to commune with you in ways that are intimate and exciting—and that only happens as you pray.
I sincerely thank God for allowing me to write this book. My own prayer life has been greatly enriched during this project. I have followed my own advice to “don’t delay, pray right away.” I have seen some amazing results, and I know you will, too. Remember, whatever you need, prayer opens the door for God to work!
Notes
INTRODUCTION
1. Watchman Nee, Let Us Pray (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc., 1977), p. 1.
CHAPTER 1
1. “Study Shows Only 16% of Protestant Ministers are Very Satisfied with Their Personal Prayer Lives” (2005), http://www.ellisonresearch.com.
2. Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer (Greenville, SC: Ambassador Books, 2002), pp. 18, 19.
3. Charles Spurgeon, The Power in Prayer (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1996), p. 20.
CHAPTER 2
1. Murray, p. 16.
2. Jeanne Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (Beaumont, TX: The SeedSowers, 1975), p. 64.
3. Spurgeon, p. 21.
4. E. M. Bounds, Essentials of Prayer (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1994), p. 21.
5. Spurgeon, p. 62.
CHAPTER 4
1. “Couple Prayer” (2005), http://www.accord.ie.
2. “Columbine Victim: Faith Saved My Life,” Rocky Mountain News (Thursday, January 27, 2000).
3. Sandra S. “God Can and Does Perform Miracles Every Day!” Enjoying Everyday Life (June 9, 2005).
4. Murray, p. 188.
CHAPTER 5
1. Bounds, p. 30.
2. Bounds, p. 40.
CHAPTER 6
1. Bounds, p. 83.
CHAPTER 7
1. Spurgeon, p. 136.
2. Murray, pp. 65, 66.
CHAPTER 8
1. Nee, p. 75.
2. Murray, p. 108.
3. Ibid
CHAPTER 9
1. Murray, p. 163.
2. Murray, p. 184.
CHAPTER 12
1. Bounds, p. 102.
CHAPTER 13
1. Nee, p. 45.
2. Murray, p.159.
3. Joyce Meyer, The Word, the Name, the Blood, Warner Books edition (New York: Warner Faith, Time Warner Book Group, 2003), p. 88.
4. Murray, pp. 172, 173.
5. Murray, p. 173.
6. Murray, p. 174.
7. Nee, p. 45.
8. Nee, p. 57.
About the Author
Joyce Meyer is one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman; Look Great, Feel Great; the entire Battlefield of the Mind family of books; and many others. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce’s Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.
TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR IN THE UNITED STATES:
Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 655
Fenton, Missouri 63026
(636) 349-0303
www.joycemeyer.org
Please include your testimony or help received from this book when you write. Your prayer requests are welcome.
TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR IN CANADA:
Joyce Meyer Ministries-Canada, Inc.
Lambeth Box 1300
London, ON N6P 1T5
(636) 349-0303
TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR IN AUSTRALIA:
Joyce Meyer Ministries-Australia
Locked Bag 77
Mansfield Delivery Centre
Queensland 4122
07 3349 1200
TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR IN ENGLAND:
Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 1549
Windsor
SL4 1GT
Great Britain
(0) 1753-831102
Other Books by Joyce Meyer
The Everyday Life Bible (hardcover or bonded leather)
The Confident Woman
Look Great, Feel Great
Battlefield of
the Mind*
Battlefield of the Mind Devotional
Approval Addiction
Ending Your Day Right
In Pursuit of Peace
The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word
Seven Things That Steal Your Joy
Starting Your Day Right
Beauty for Ashes (revised edition)
How to Hear from God*
Knowing God Intimately
The Power of Forgiveness
The Power of Determination
The Power of Being Positive
The Secrets of Spiritual Power
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
The Secrets to Exceptional Living
Eight Ways to Keep the Devil Under Your Feet
Teenagers Are People Too!
Filled with the Spirit
Celebration of Simplicity
The Joy of Believing Prayer
Never Lose Heart
Being the Person God Made You to Be
A Leader in the Making
“Good Morning, This Is God!” (gift book)
Jesus—Name Above All Names
Making Marriage Work (Previously published as
Help Me—I’m Married!)
Reduce Me to Love
Be Healed in Jesus’ Name
How to Succeed at Being Yourself
Weary Warriors, Fainting Saints
Be Anxious for Nothing*
Straight Talk Omnibus
Don’t Dread
Managing Your Emotions
Healing the Brokenhearted
Me and My Big Mouth!*
Prepare to Prosper
Do It Afraid!
Expect a Move of God in Your Life. . . Suddenly!
Enjoying Where You Are on the Way to Where You Are Going
The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make
When, God, When?
Why, God, Why?
The Word, the Name, the Blood
Tell Them I Love Them
Peace
If Not for the Grace of God*
Joyce Meyer Spanish Titles
Las Siete Cosas Que Te Roban el Gozo (Seven Things
That Steal Your Joy)
Empezando Tu Dia Bien (Starting Your Day Right)
Books by Dave Meyer
Life Lines
*Study Guide available for this title.
