Moore - Praying Gods word day by day : [breaking free from spiritual strongholds]

To my beloved friend

MARY ANN

I know of no one who extols the power
of praying Scripture more than you.
You are unspeakably dear to me.
I love you,
Beth

FOR THOUGH WE LIVE IN THE WORLD,
WE DO NOT WAGE WAR AS THE WORLD
DOES. THE WEAPONS WE FIGHT WITH
ARE NOT THE WEAPONS OF THE
WORLD. ON THE CONTRARY, THEY
HAVE DIVINE POWER TO DEMOLISH
STRONGHOLDS. WE DEMOLISH
ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION
THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND WE TAKE
CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT
OBEDIENT TO CHRIST.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:35

This book is a result of my unquenchable desire to share one of the most effective approaches to the liberated life in Christ that God has ever taught me: praying Scripture to overcome strongholds.

Actually, I didn't discover what a vital part of my liberation this approach has been until long after I had begun practicing it. I suddenly realized it was no accident that I was finally set free from some areas of bondage that had long hindered the abundant, effective, Spirit-filled life in me. After the failure of all my formulas, in my desperate search for freedom I cast myself entirely upon God. He faithfully led me to several deliberate practices that He knew would work. Stunningly, in fact.

Many of us have expended unknown energy trying hard to topple these strongholds on our own, but they won't fall, will they? That's because they must be demolished. God has handed us two sticks of dynamite with which to demolish our strongholds: His Word and prayer. What is more powerful than two sticks of dynamite placed in separate locations? Two strapped together.

And that's what this book is all about: taking our primary sticks of dynamiteprayer and the Wordstrapping them together, and igniting them with faith in what God says He can do.

What makes these two sticks of dynamite so powerfully effective when strapped together? Let's consider the stick of prayer first. Prayer keeps us in constant communion with God, which is the goal of our entire believing lives. Yes, God wants to bring us healing, but more than anything else, He wants us to know our Healer. His chief objective is to keep us connected entirely to Him.

Then what makes the Word such a powerful stick of dynamite to demolish strongholds? According to 2 Corinthians 10:35, our objectives are to cast down anything that exalts itself in our thought life and to take our thoughts captive to Christ. And we do this every time we choose to think Christ's thoughts about any situation or stronghold instead of Satan's or our own. What are Christ's thoughts? The Word of God revealed to us.

In praying Scripture, I not only find myself in intimate communication with God, but my mind is being retrained, or renewed (Rom. 12:2), to think His thoughts about my situation rather than mine. This approach has worked powerfully every time I've applied it. It takes belief, diligence, and time, but the effects are dramatically liberating and eternal.

I am a fellow sojourner with you. I have made so many mistakes and learned so many hard lessons. Please don't misunderstand my intention and think I'm suggesting my own formula here. With all my heart, I believe it is one of God's. This book is about Him and the divine weapons He's given us to demolish strongholds. It's far more His Word than mine, and we've got a written guarantee on His. It's time to start igniting some dynamite!

JANUARY 1

My Father, I acknowledge that You are the Lord Almighty. You are the first and You are the last, and apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other Rock but You. Enable me to say with full assurance, I know not one (Isa. 44:6, 8).

You are my Lord, my Holy One, my Creator, my King. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters (Isa. 43:15-16).

You are the Lord my God. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life (Deut. 30:20).

JANUARY 2

Father God, You made my Savior's life a guilt offering for me (Isa. 53:10). His death was enough to handle my guilt.

Lord Jesus, help me to accept and internalize the fact that if God is for me, who can be against me? (Rom. 8:31). It is You, God, who justifies (Rom. 8:33). Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who diedmore than that, who was raised to lifeis at Your right hand, O God, and is also interceding for me (Rom. 8:34).

In all these things I am more than a conqueror through You who love me, Sovereign Lord (Rom. 8:37).

JANUARY 3

The Lord will do great things for me, and I will be filled with joy. I will sow in tears, then I will reap with songs of joy. If I go out weeping, Lord, carrying seed to sow, I will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with me (Ps. 126:3, 5-6).

Please help me be willing to sow the seed of Your Word and to water it with my tears, believing You in the midst of my pain. If I do, You will be faithful to fill me with joy again. You will faithfully bring a harvest forth from my life. My suffering will not be in vain.

You, the God of all grace, who called me to Your eternal glory in Christ, will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast after I have suffered a little while (1 Pet. 5:10).

JANUARY 4

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You (Neh. 9:6).

The earth is Yours, O Lord, and everything in itthe world and all who live in it (Ps. 24:1). For You are a great God, the great King above all gods. In Your hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to You. The sea is Yours, for You made it, and Your hands formed the dry land (Ps. 95:3-5). In Your hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10).

JANUARY 5