A Prayer for Breakthrough in Spiritual Warfare
By Jaime Hampton
Bible Verse:
“So David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.’ So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.” - 2 Samuel 5:19-21 (NIV)
Listen or Read Below:
Is there an ongoing battle in your life where you’re needing to see a breakthrough? King David knew exactly how you feel. At the time of his coronation, Israel had been in a decades-long war with the Philistines. 1 Samuel 13:19-22 tells us that Israel was prohibited from having blacksmiths anywhere in their land because the Philistines were afraid they would forge weapons. The people of Israel had to actually travel to the Philistines to even have their farming blades and everyday tools sharpened. The Philistines had the upper hand in every way.
As you probably know, King David was not sinless. In fact, his list of sins was long, including adultery and cold-blooded murder. But he loved God mightily, grieved his sin deeply, and had an unwavering faith in the power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He believed that God’s territory was his to claim, regardless of the obstacles in front of him.
2 Samuel 5:19-21 paints a picture of faith that leaves me breathless. I long for that kind of unwavering belief that the God of the Universe can and will break forth like rushing waters to lay waste to any obstacle that stands between me and the territory He has already staked out for me to claim. I think of Israel crossing the Red Sea safely, but Pharaoh’s army and chariots being swept away as the powerful waters rushed in on them.
Baal Perazim literally means “Possessor of Breaches” or “Lord of Breakthrough.” Where in your life do you need the Lord of Breakthrough to break out against your enemies? What obstacles are standing in your way right now that seem hopeless? Think of Israel: weaponless. Vulnerable. Outnumbered and overmatched. But they served a matchless God, and guess what? So do you. Believe Him, and invite him into your battle.
Let’s Pray:
Almighty God, we praise you and acknowledge you as the Lord of Breakthrough. There is no problem, enemy, or battle too great for your mighty power. We come before you with battles that have seemed hopeless for longer than we care to admit. We lay them like offerings at your feet, confessing any wrong thinking about who you are and whose we are. Like David, we ask: Will you give us victory? And like David, we trust that when you are for us, there is no one and nothing in all of creation that can stand against us. Open our eyes to the spiritual territory that’s already been claimed as ours, but that we’ve been deceived into thinking is outside of our grasp. Increase our faith as we pray outside the boundaries of what we thought was possible because we are partnering with a God for whom nothing is impossible. Help us to define success and victory not in human terms, but in yours, and to pray in alignment with your will with increasing power, passion, and boldness, and in doing so to bring glory to you and your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/DedMityay
Related Resource: What to Do When God Seems Distant
What do we do when God no longer feels as close as He used to feel?
Many sincere believers experience seasons when prayer feels empty, Scripture feels quiet, and God seems strangely absent. For leaders especially, those seasons can feel confusing, discouraging, and even shameful.
In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss the new book When God Seems Distant, coauthored with John Coe. If this episode helps you recenter your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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