At the beginning of this process I didn’t really think that I needed a strategy for prayer. I mean, don’t you just pray? But the more I have studied the book the more I am convinced that the enemy will do ANYTHING to keep us in chains and if I am going to fight against that I need a plan, a strategy to fight back!

Because if I am being honest, prayer had become more of an after-thought in my life. “God please help me…”, “Lord, fix so-and-so wouldn’t you? Life would be easier for me if You would fix them.”

I didn’t pray the hard prayers because I wasn’t willing to walk through an answer that may mean work on my end!

I wanted to say the “easy” prayers and have things neatly wrapped up in a nice, pretty package when I was done.

But these words from Priscilla struck a deep chord within me, “We simply don’t have the luxury of playing nice with prayer. Not if we want things to change. Not if we want to be free – from whatever’s keeping us held down and held back. Not if we want our hearts whole and thriving and deep and grounded…different. Not if we want to reach our destinies and experience God’s promises….” p3

There is more and with each sentence I could hear my heart cry “yes!” Yes we want freedom from those things that keep us bound in chains. Yes we want clarity and direction for our husband and our children. Yes we want to walk in God’s calling for our lives.

But she goes on to say that we won’t see any of those things come to fruition if we aren’t praying with precision.

Just as a commander plots and plans his teams next move in a battle, so must we approach those areas that we most need God’s help.

So I ask you what is the greatest stronghold in your life today?

Where is the enemy attacking you, your home? Your marriage or your finances?

I discovered that the root of so many of my heart issues stemmed out of fear.

It is the weapon that the enemy has used in his arsenal against me time and time again and quite frankly I am tired of it!

Fear of the what if, fear of the worst case scenario, fear that holds me stuck so that I can’t move forward and allow God to work in me because I believe that the “what-if” scenarios will come true.

We will look more closely at fear a little later in our study, but for me it has keep me from the free and abundant life that Christ has for me.

So what can we do in these situations?

First I need to fight back in those fear-filled moments with prayer.

Ask God to reveal truth, look up and prayer actual scripture over your stronghold. I love 2 Timothy 1: 7 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

What ever your stronghold is, know that it is a not from God. God doesn’t want us to live in fear, bound in chains. The enemy does, he thrives in the lies that you will never change, you can’t trust God. He wants you to believe that your what-ifs WILL come true.

But if we can begin to fight back in prayer, with a strategy that gives us power – the enemy is going to flee from the powerful woman that you will become!

I love the hope that is found in the pages of Fervent. And as we continue on we will discover more specific ways to march forward. But for today I encourage you to spend some time thinking about those things that keep you bound and start asking, boldly for God to break any chains you may find yourself in!

Lord, we thank you for the gift of knowledge. For the opportunity to develop a battle plan to fight against the enemy’s attacks. We know Lord that You are with us and I ask that You place a hedge of protection around the women walking this road. Strengthen us all and break those chains that keep us from the full freedom that is found in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.