On Monday, September 19, Staci Stallings wrote the first part of A Reason to Pray.
Here is part 2.
A Reason to Pray (part 2)
When you use Satan’s attempts to upset you as a reminder that “This is a reason to pray,” you are using one of the best spiritual tools in the weapons God has given you. Why?
Because God drives Satan insane. In fact, Satan cannot be where God is. Even better, Satan doesn’t want to be where God is.
A friend of mine was having financial trouble. She had creditors calling who did not have a claim on the payment they were requesting, but that didn’t stop them from calling—every day. At home, at work, on her cell phone. Despite getting solid legal advice that she did not owe this money, they kept calling. The situation was sending her into panic attacks and had anxiety wrapped over her like a wet blanket.
When she finally told me what was going on, as we talked, the Holy Spirit whispered the answer to me. “Tell her to use this as a reason to pray.” Not in general terms, like at night saying, “Please, God. Take this away.” But directly.
As crazy as this is going to sound, I have now seen the following work miracles not just in this situation but in others. When the thoughts come (or the creditor call comes in, or the angry co-worker shows up, or the ex-husband calls), in your spirit say, “Oh, thanks, Satan. You’re right. I need to pray about this. Bless you for reminding me… Thank You, God, for being in my life and for showing me Your best way to handle this. Be with me Holy Spirit. I give this situation to You. You are the most awesome friend I have! Thanks.”
Let me tell you. Satan does NOT want to be the reason you remember God. Remember the dis- words mean separation, away from, negation. He wants to separate you from God, to negate the good God is doing in the world. It drives Satan crazy to be the reminder that God is present and all you have to do is put the situation in God’s hands to handle. And it’s become very clear to me that Satan will pull up stakes and RUN from a situation where you do this.
You can even get more specific in the salutation you use for the minions Satan has sent to torment you. “Oh, fear, thanks. You’re right. I need to pray about this. Bless you for reminding me.”
Oh! I can hear the demons cartwheeling away from the situation even as I write. They have no power where God is, and an aside, they hate to be blessed! It’s quite fun actually because you are learning to spread love even to your enemies. You will feel better and more at peace before you ever even get to the point of beginning to handle whatever is going on.
“Oh, thanks, Satan. You’re right I need to pray about this. Bless you for reminding me.”
Use Satan as your reason to pray, and in no time, he won’t be lurking around your doorstep. Try it. You’ll see what I mean.
