How To Win Spiritual Battles Effectively

My Thoughts on  Exodus17 : 8-16 &
Exodus 18:13-24

Strategies to be learnt, to win spiritual battles.

Exo 17-Vs 9
*stand on top of the hill - refers to going to a quiet place to meet with God.

*with the staff of God in my hands- here, the staff or rod represents God's power.

Exodus 17:11 NIV
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. (Coincidentally the Amalekites are the descendants of Esau, the eldest sonnof Isaac and Rebecca & the Israelites are the descendants of Jacob the second son of Isaac and Rebecca)

*As long as he prevailed in prayer, as long as he lifted up his hands in surrender to God, God defeated the enemies and the Israelites were winning but when he was overcome by tiredness and frailty and could not pray, the enemies were winning.

How does one prevail in prayer? How do we win the constant spiritual battles in our lives? As human beings we too face times when we can't pray because we are too troubled and overwhelmed with sorrows. What do we do then? Here is where the role of the prayer partners cone in. Let us see what happens in the Exodus scenario...

Exodus 17:12-13 NIV
When Moses' hands grew tired, they (Aaron and Hur)took a stone (rock)and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up---one on one side, one on the other---so that his hands remained steady till sunset. [13] So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

* took a stone (rock)and put it under him and he sat on it- here the stone or rock represents Jesus our Rock and Cornerstone. Moses sits on it...we should rest our heartaches, sorrows, anxieties and worries on Jesus and wait upon Him Who is our Rock, Foundation and Cornerstone.

* Aaron and Hur held his hands up---one on one side, one on the other---so that his hands remained steady till sunset. [13] So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

*just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses hands to be up steady till sunset, we too must help one another in intercessory prayer and encourage our prayer partners to stand steady till the results are seen and the victory is won.

What if we are like Moses bearing the troubles of everyone and are weighed down heavily by them? Regarding this we hear a very sound and Godly advice from an elderly man of great experiences, Moses' father in law Jethro.

Jethro advises Moses on how to handle people and situations wisely to be effectively win every battle we face in life.

Let us read further in
Exodus 18:13-24 KJV
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: (here Moses was facing the people) and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. [14] And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? [15] And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: [16] When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. [17] And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. [18] Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. [19] Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: [20] And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. [21] Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: [22] And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. [23] If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so , then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. [24] So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

*Here Jethro says thus, " Be thou for the people to God-ward, (that means, for the sake of those you are praying, stand toward God, stand facing God instead of the people, instead of being engrossed in their problems and being weighed down by those problems) that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:( bring their problems to God, tell God everything and seek His counsel)  [20] And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do ( thus you will be able to advise them and guide them to do the right thing to solve their problems through the Wisdom of God.

In summary, we as prayer warriors must employ the following strategies to win spiritual battles effectively:-

1) Go to a quiet place to seek God's face.
2) Rest your burdens on our Lord Jesus our Rock.
3) Surrender everything to God our Father.
4) Praise and worship Him as if nothing else matters, just knowing that He will fight the battle for us while we praise Him. 
5) When the battle is heavy, alert prayer partners to pray alongside with you.
6) Never give up till the battle is won.
7) Continue to stand before God for every detail in your life and seek His Counsel.

If we do this everyday we can rejoice in the Lord at all times.

Mary Augustine
17th Feb 2016