Stand Until the Breakthrough

Using a Prayer Strategy for Victory in Spiritual Warfare — Part 4

There comes a point in spiritual warfare when you have prayed the prayer, declared God’s Word, resisted the enemy, worshiped, and obeyed what the Holy Spirit told you to do.

What comes next?

Stand.

Ephesians 6:13 tells believers to take up the whole armor of God and concludes:

“Having done all, to stand.”

Standing is part of our prayer strategy.

When the Answer Doesn’t Come Immediately

Daniel 10 provides an extraordinary glimpse into the unseen realm.

Daniel prayed and fasted for twenty-one days before receiving an answer. Yet when the angel arrived, Daniel learned that his prayer had been heard from the first day.

There had been spiritual resistance he couldn’t see.

This does not mean every delayed answer is caused by demonic opposition. Scripture gives us many reasons why God’s timing may differ from ours.

But Daniel’s experience teaches an important principle:

What we see does not reveal everything God is doing.

Never assume God isn’t working simply because you cannot see immediate evidence.

Pray and Don’t Lose Heart

Luke 18:1 says Jesus taught that people “always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

Persistent prayer isn’t an attempt to convince an unwilling God to care.

It is continuing to trust the character of a faithful Father.

The enemy wants delay to produce discouragement.

Discouragement can lead to doubt.

Doubt can tempt us to abandon what God has spoken.

Therefore, when circumstances have not changed, return to God’s Word.

Hebrews 10:23 says:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Guard Your Agreement

One of the most overlooked parts of spiritual warfare happens after prayer.

We can spend thirty minutes declaring God’s promises and then spend the rest of the day speaking fear.

James 4:7 tells us to submit to God and resist the devil.

Resistance may need to continue.

When the lie returns, answer it again.

When fear returns, return to God’s promises.

When condemnation returns, remember the Cross.

When discouragement returns, worship.

Guard what you agree with after you pray.

Faith Doesn’t Deny Reality

Biblical faith is not pretending problems don’t exist.

Romans 4 tells us Abraham understood the impossibility of his natural circumstances, yet he refused to waver concerning God’s promise.

Faith can look directly at the problem and still say:

“My God is greater.”

We don’t deny the doctor’s report, the financial statement, the difficult relationship, or the circumstances before us.

We simply refuse to make those things greater than God.

Praise While You Wait

Psalm 34:1 says:

“I will bless the LORD at all times.”

Praise is not reserved for the other side of the breakthrough.

Sometimes one of the greatest declarations of faith is worshiping while you’re waiting.

When nothing appears to have changed, lift your hands and declare:

“Jesus, I still trust You.”

We Stand in Christ’s Victory

Our confidence in spiritual warfare must always remain centered on Jesus.

Colossians 2:15 says Christ disarmed principalities and powers and triumphed over them.

The Cross looked like defeat.

The resurrection revealed victory.

We are not attempting to earn authority through our spiritual performance. We stand in what Jesus accomplished.

Romans 8:37 declares that we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

The victory belongs to Christ.

Our position is in Christ.

Our confidence is in Christ.

Our authority is in Christ.

And our hope is in Christ.

The Complete Strategy

Throughout this series we have developed a biblical strategy for spiritual warfare:

Recognize that the ultimate battle is not against flesh and blood.

Know the spiritual weapons God has provided.

Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment.

Identify lies and strongholds.

Find the Scriptures that address the battle.

Turn those Scriptures into prayer.

Repent and close any doors God reveals.

Resist the enemy.

Praise God before the breakthrough.

Persist in prayer.

And having done all…

Stand.

Don’t allow delay to become defeat.

Don’t allow circumstances to determine your theology.

Don’t allow Satan’s lies to become your confession.

Keep praying.

Keep believing.

Keep worshiping.

Keep obeying.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

And keep standing.

Declaration

I declare that Jesus Christ is Lord and that my victory is found in Him. I will not allow delay to produce unbelief or discouragement. I will hold fast to God’s Word because He who promised is faithful. I submit myself completely to God and resist the devil. I refuse agreement with fear, condemnation, deception, hopelessness, and every lie contrary to God’s Word. I will pray, believe, worship, obey, and stand. The Cross is victorious, the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive, and through Christ I am more than a conqueror. Having done all, I will stand!

Prayer

Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness.

Thank You that You hear me when I pray.

Give me strength when the answer seems delayed. Keep discouragement from taking root in my heart. When I cannot see what You are doing, help me continue trusting who You are.

Holy Spirit, strengthen me in the battle.

When fear returns, remind me of Your truth.

When discouragement comes, restore my hope.

When condemnation speaks, remind me of the finished work of Jesus.

When I grow tired, strengthen me.

When I don’t know what to pray, help me pray according to Your will.

Father, guard my thoughts and my words after I pray. Help me refuse agreement with the lies of the enemy.

Teach me to praise You while I wait.

I declare that Jesus Christ has triumphed over the powers of darkness through the Cross.

Jesus is alive.

Jesus is victorious.

Jesus is Lord.

I place my confidence not in my ability, but in Christ’s finished work.

I will keep praying.

I will keep believing.

I will keep worshiping.

I will keep obeying.

And having done all, I will stand.

In the mighty, victorious, and matchless name of Jesus Christ, Amen.