When the movie 300 came out, every man wanted to be one of the 300 Spartans that gave their life trying to defend their lands. Ever guy who saw the movie envisioned themselves as having ripping huge muscles and masculinity pouring out of every pore. 300, like many war movies, made war look glorious and romantic, even when they all ended up dead at the end. But, based on the accounts of those who have experienced war first hand, war is not like this. War is ugly, painful and traumatic.
Today a very close friend of mine is locked in a heated battle that could alter his life and the life of his family forever, today my friend fights for his marriage. My friend “D” has been involved in ministry the last ten years and recently he and his wife “G” have been struggling in their relationship. They are in the midst of
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some of the greatest spiritual battle I have ever witnessed and both have been wounded badly. The enemy seeks to destroy these two people’s individual lives, their marriage and their family of five. Therefore, I put a call out to 300 men and women, who are part of the Lords army, to join me in fighting back for the sake of this family and all the others who are facing this same attack.
While I cannot heal the wounds that this couple has already been afflicted with, I can, through the power of Christ, act as prayerful hedge of protection from further attack. Like the men of Gideon’s army, it will not be through my own strength that this battle will be won, but rather by the power of God.
I now call on you to tighten up your armor of God and stand beside me as face off against the enemy who hates us, our families, our churches and our God. We can’t make their marriage right, but we sure can stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, holding the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:10-18).
I call on you to pray in the Spirit for the next 30 days to pray for “D” and “G.” Set your cell phones to alert you once a day to pray, mark your calendar, place a sticky note on your window, or find some other way to remind yourself to pray for “D” and “G” and all the others who are in the same battle. If you are willing to take the next 30 days to act as a prayer warrior, then please comment below so they weary can find courage in Christ.
With Gideon and a 300 hundred volunteer man army, God did what Leonidas and his 300 trained professional Spartan soldiers could not do, God defeated His enemies (Judges 7).
I also long for the support of prayer warriors. I have given my best in this battle but to no avail. I just gave up everything into the Lord’s hand. I am tired of winning her heart once again. Somebody occupied her heart. We have been married for 16 years now. Due to my busyness in my studies and the ministry, I was not aware that I overlooked her needs. Everything changed since 2005. The truth was exposed last 2009. We have been separated now for 2 years. We have 3 kids. I stopped my doctoral course, was asked to resign as faculty seminary, and filed a leave from the church last November 2010. Remember R and A in your prayer. I no longer know what the Lord’s will is in this battle. This is the hardest fight I have been for 44 years of my life.
I am not sure if reading and applying this article is not yet too late in the case of others:
http://unityinchrist.com/corinthians/his_needs_her_needs.htm
Grace and Peace!
First and foremost – Yes! I wil pray. Secondly, as a pastor who pastors alongside my husband who is the senior pastor. As a wife and a mom and one who is a speaker and an author, my life going a mile a minute. However, I start each morning in prayer and frequently do a time of fasting and prayer. My heart goes out to men and women in ministry. The devil is doing what he can to destroy our homes. In the name of Jesus, I declare and decree that we come together under one accord and rebuke the devil, stand with one another, hold couples accountable, and do as the Lord has called us to continue to fast and pray on behalf of one another.
My husband is a seminary professor at two different seminaries, he is the senior pastor of a church plant, he is in the middle of his second PhD. Me, I’m an ordained pastor, work full-time for a women’s international ministry, author, speaker, mom and wife – we pray ongoing for a healthy marriage. What comes with a healthy marriage is a balance along with coming with two whole people and not this false sense of “Here’s my other half.” We must bring two whole people to the table. The other thing is to have Christian accountablility partners.
I have a passion for prayer and have hosted 24 hour prayer summits around the world. My most recent book, Ready to Pray deals with the truth of prayer and fasting and that we go to God with everything we have and handing it over to Him and to come away with His yoke for it is easy and light.
Another key thing – NEVER stop DATING your spouse. NEVER! Make it a point to always have a date with your spouse.
That’s my two cents.
My heart goes out to R and A and the struggle you are facing. Also, D and G will be in my prayers as will R and A. As a faculty member at a small Bible college as well as working on my PhD I understand the busyness of life and the demands our jobs and education have on us.
I am reminded of the story of Gideon as posted by Paul. The story is one of great victory in the face of what could only appear to be defeat. In the sixth chapter of Judges, Gideon is renamed Jerub-Baal by the people of his own town, which means let Baal contend with him. Through a series of confirmations of his call, Gideon is strengthened once again by God to do what God has called him to do. In the seventh chapter, a power statement is made: “In the morning, Jerub-Baal (That is Gideon)…” The author of Judges uses the name given to Gideon by the people in his town. However he uses it as a bit of a slap in the face to the enemy. The men renamed him, “Let Baal contend with him.” In the seventh chapter of Judges, Baal contends with Gideon, and his 300 men, and loses. In fact, he loses embarrassingly. A huge, mighty army is brought down by 300 people. What a testimony to God’s faithfulness and power in our lives.
Let this be an encouragement to you: the world may rename you a loss, your friends and family may rename you a loss, but God has named you a ‘Mighty Conqueror’. Step into that promise that God has given you and see what he can do for you in that.
I will pray for R and A and D and G that God reveals his mighty power in the midst of these trials that seem overwhelming and insurmountable. May God reveal to you and your spouse the name he has given you, not the name that you have for yourself, or that the world has given you. Amen!
Count me in….. anything for the Kingdom of God !!!!