I Prayed have prayed
Dear Heavenly Father, I desire to serve You through intercession. I know that this puts me on the front lines of spiritual warfare. Please help me remember to defend my marriage and children, in both prayer and practice, while I also contend for our nation. Don’t let my passion for America overshadow my passion for my own family. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name.
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Do you love praying for America? If so, I am writing to both encourage you and to challenge you today.

Beloved, we know that our God loves this nation. He birthed the USA; He has sustained her; and He will continue to perfect her as we pray. Your prayers are heard, and our God is faithful. He will answer!

But stepping into the spiritual battle for our nation in prayer puts you squarely in the middle of spiritual warfare.

We all have an enemy. The enemy is not people; rather, the enemy consists of Satan and his minions. As it says in Ephesians:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:12-13).

And friend, the enemy doesn’t play fair.

You may be praying for our nation, but the enemy doesn’t limit his retribution and counterattacks to things that pertain to our nation. No, the enemy will go after you personally:

  • He’ll go after your emotions.
  • He’ll attack your health.
  • He’ll attack your finances.

But, even worse than that:

When you step into the front lines of spiritual warfare, the enemy will often play dirty and try to go after your home life—your marriage and children.

You shouldn’t be afraid, but you need to be aware.

Don’t be afraid of the enemy’s attacks; the Bible says that greater is He who is in you (Jesus) than he who is in the world (Satan). You are MORE than a conqueror in all these things because the love of God will keep you. Do not ever be afraid of the enemy; trust God instead. God will keep you safe as you cling to Him and abide in Him.

As it says in James 4:6-10:

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:6-10 NKJV).

But a big part of trusting God is obeying Him. You have to fight the good fight His way.

And what is His way? His way is, among other things:

  • Obedience;
  • Prayer; and
  • Walking in wisdom … even when it comes to your family.

When it comes to protecting your home life, we have to incorporate all three things. We have to defend our home life through obedience, prayer, and wisdom.

Here’s what this looks like, practically speaking:

  • Pray for your children actively and aggressively.
  • Pray for your marriage, even if your marriage is not in trouble. It only takes one moment of temptation, sin, anger, or anything else to place a rift between a husband and wife—and the enemy is working hard to create just such a moment. Don’t let him. Pray aggressively and defensively for your marriage, no matter what condition your marriage is in.
  • Study God’s Word about marriage, children, and home life, so you can know what it is that the Lord wants you to obey. Then, devote yourself to carrying out His instructions!
  • Walk in wisdom when it comes to your home life.

Here are some examples of what walking in wisdom looks like:

  • Don’t overwork. Your job and career are not more important than your family; not even close.
  • Spend time investing in your family. Make quality time together a priority.
  • Have fun with your spouse and children. Don’t let the world become more attractive and more fun than the godly fun you have with them!
  • Invest in weekly dates with your spouse.
  • Invest yourself and your whole heart into nurturing and building your children—spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and even financially!
  • Surround yourself with accountability partners.
  • Get into Christian counseling for your marriage, even if you’re not in trouble. I believe every Christian husband and wife can benefit from monthly or even weekly marriage counseling, even if only for marriage enrichment purposes!

Walking in wisdom with marriage, family, and home can be a big challenge for Christian families.

None of us are perfect in this; we all need God’s help. However, too often the fight is harder than it has to be because of a legalistic Christian culture that says we should devote ourselves to “God’s work” or “church work”—or even to success and blessing!—to the detriment of home and family.

But beloved, that myth is not in the Word of God.

Marriage is the first covenant God established. Children are the first reward He gave after the gift of relationship with Himself. The first specific place God created, after He created the earth at large, was a home for Adam and Eve—the Garden of Eden.

Your marriage, children, and home matter to God. And you have to defend them.

We have to defend our home lives—our marriage and children—through prayer, obedience, and wisdom.

This is not to say that, if something goes wrong, it is our fault.

We live in a sinful world where bad things happen sometimes. People make decisions and decisions have consequences. God respects people’s free will, even when they decide to sin or hurt others. The bad things that can happen on this earth are NOT necessarily your fault, or anyone’s fault! Sometimes they may not have anything to do with you at all!

However, the simple truth is that your family is on the front lines with you whether they know it or not. And if you’re going to survive this intercessory battle, you have to defend your family in prayer, in wisdom, and through obeying God … even on the home front.

Precious intercessor, you are on the front lines of a major spiritual battle.

Unless you put up a hedge of protection through your prayers, obedience to God, and Biblical, godly wisdom, your family will be in the line of the enemy’s fire. Therefore, I encourage you today to fight the good fight on your family’s behalf, just as much (or even more) as you pray and contend for these United States of America.

Beloved, your prayers, obedience to God, and godly wisdom are effective and powerful. Remember what the Lord tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NKJV).

And James 5:16 reassures us:

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (NKJV).

Will you defend your family in prayer, obedience to God, and godly wisdom today? Leave a comment below and commit yourself to do this by God’s grace if so!

Jamie Rohrbaugh equips people to walk in the manifest presence of God. She is the author of 7 Days of Praying for Your Children: Help, Hope, and Encouragement for Your Parenting Journey, as well as HOPE for Your Marriage: Prayer Strategies for Your Darkest Hour. She blogs for a global readership at FromHisPresence.com, where she writes about prayer, the prophetic word, living supernaturally, inner healing, and Kingdom wealth. Her writing is featured on YouVersion, Charisma Magazine, The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. Download her free ebook, Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship, here. Photo Credit: Intercessors for America.

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Theresa Malin
April 26, 2022

Yes I will pray for my (adult) children today and for my husband. That my children and their children will come to the Lord and that my husband will understand the importance of fasting. And also that the Lord moulds me to become all He calls me to be.

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Connie N Mitchell
April 24, 2022

Family is everything to our Father and to me! I truly stand as a sold out intecessors and faithful belivever in Christ for not only my family but for families all over the world! Why because God is for the family and we are therefore victorious and need to stand on this mountain of the LORD and declare it every day with grace!

2
Darlene Estlow
April 22, 2022

Father thank you for our families. Strengthen marriages in our country and abroad. Draw fathers’ hearts to their children to disciple their children. Bless parents whose children are now grown and have children of their own. May they relate rightly to their grown children and grandchildren and encourage their marriages and families. I pray for my own children and grandchildren that you would draw them close to you and bless them.

11
Mary
April 22, 2022

I will continue to pray for my family, all prodigals and America. I started these petitions a long time again and I will stand in agreement that more people will also pray.

6
Mike
April 22, 2022

I long to see a victorious church, but unfortunately, the body has long since sought to divide body part from body part making the church ineffective. From what we read in Scripture it shouldn’t come as s surprise for us to find us in the position we are now in. The repeated commands to stand as one, to unite, to be of one mind and one accord have gone unheeded. Lord, may you forgive us and unite us under your headship, one body, one mind, one purpose. And what is that purpose…

I want to remind us all that when the Apostles asked the Lord Jesus to teach them to pray, His reply was “So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven…”

We are to seek His will above all, whether that be good or bad for this nation. In reality, it seems incomprehensible to ask the Lord to bless this nation with all the flith and poison we ship out into the world. Supposedly birth from His hand, by His divine will, and yet here we are the main source of pornography, acceptance of homosexuality, glorifying death and violence in film and radio, abortion on demand, drug use not only tolerated but legal… a real “light” to the rest of the world.

For far too long the body of Christ has stood in apathy, not wanting to go against the grain. May we shed that filth, stand for what is right, and long for the return of the Lord Jesus. Maranatha!

PS: I don’t say any of this to degrade anything this ministry is doing, as they seem to be one of the few willing to stand in the trenches and do battle.

4
Debbie
April 21, 2022

Yes! Godly marriages and families should not blend into the world. They should stand out as exceptionally good, shining the Light, Love, Truth, Hope, Joy, Peace and Righteousness of God into the darkness of the world. Father, this is my prayer for my own marriage and family and for that of all my brothers and sisters in Christ!

10
Jonathan H, Edwards
April 21, 2022

We must remember to live a life of LOVE (Agape). Jesus made this His commandment to His disciples. Yet most of us do not have the constant ability to live this kind of Love that He showed us. For the world focuses on eros love. JHE

3
Sue Tracy
April 21, 2022

Lord watch over and protect America. Restore our nation that we would one day prosper again.
Lord come to the aid of Ukraine and continue to save souls in this difficult time. Thank you Jesus for leading and guiding us.
Amen

11
JACK RIPLEY
April 21, 2022

Thanks, encouraging words. I’ll be praying.

4
Bo Ehrig
April 21, 2022

Excellent

6
Karen Secrest
April 21, 2022

Thanks for the reminder. The Father reminded me that Sunday isn’t the only day I can rest and enjoy family.. it’s important to lighten up and not lay my prayer burdens on family since they have their own calling. Being able to give Holy Spirit direction and not my own is crucial at this time. I’m to be grateful for financial giving from family but be grateful the Father wants me to bless family in the gifts in return. Thank You Jesus..

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Patricia
April 21, 2022

Thank you, I truly needed this today. God bless.

11
Debbie Larkin
April 21, 2022

Thank you for this reminder and encouragement!!
I truly love the articles here, they are very informative and helpful!

12
Brian
April 21, 2022

Excellent article, Jamie. We need to be aggressive and intentional in our covering of our families in prayer. We need to trust in, and cling to, the Lord’s mercy and grace. Lord Jesus, please, keep us focused upon Your great and powerful love for us. By the power of Holy Spirit, help us to remain aware of the enemy’s attacks upon us. Help us to take authority over the enemy , and his futile attempts to distract us from our service to You. In Jesus’ mighty name.

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Hilary B
April 21, 2022

Lord Help my husband and i as we decide to have a family in the future. Give us discernment and strength as we break the cycle of divorce that has happened on both sides of our families and disfunction. Help us to be a Godly example to our families of what having God at the head of the home looks like. I pray Joshua 24:15 over our home “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”. Thank you Lord for all you’ve done in our lives and for the future. Amen

23
marilyn
April 21, 2022

Yes and we do need prayer too. So I ask that IFA pray daily for the intercessors connected to this ministry to help cover and protect us – as we are interceding for what is on your hearts and on the other intercessors hearts and miniseries – and give offerings.

Thank you.

15
Lori Meed
April 21, 2022

Exceptional article! Thank you for dropping God’s plumbline regarding His priorities. God established family long before He established church! God and family first – reestablish the family altar. Father,pour of Your Spirit on moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, that we might walk together generationally, bringing the kingdom and raising up the generation after us. Help us to restore healthy Christian families in this nation. Revival will come in the home first!

25
    Robin
    April 21, 2022

    Amen. This article confirmed what the Lord was already telling me…to be intentional regarding my family and to not get distracted. Quality time. Discernment. Consistent and aggressive prayer. Wisdom. Praying thr Lord cover my head in the day of battle as well. [Spiritual battle]
    Ps 140:7

    12
Sandy Bagwell
April 21, 2022

Very timely Word. Thank you!

16
Bob
April 21, 2022

Father we pray for a revival of the nuclear family in America today and everyday; husband, wife and children being raised in a God-centered home. That through You Father we would prepare our family for the road, not the road for the family. We ask in Jesus’ Name. Thy Will be done.

49
Maria Guadagno
April 21, 2022

Father God we thank you for your ministers on earth who lead and guide us.

Father,I continue to pray under the protection of the blood of Jesus as the Holy Spirit leads me.Today the Holy Spirit jotted down more prayer points for me to attend to through only your Grace that brings sure victory in Christ.Fill your praying servants everywhere with that Grace that brings that Sure Victory in Christ Dear Father.We thank you for that….in Jesus’name pray..
Amen

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