We are facing a spiritual adversary that seeks to twist and contort the ways of God and block the flow of God’s Spirit at work in our nation. Even as newly appointed officials are trying to make righteous decisions in national governance, this spiritual adversary continues to obstruct the way and try to block the advance. Words of godly leaders are often misconstrued and used against them, secular reports are biased against Christian believers, and proposals for righteous ruling are misinterpreted and continually rejected.

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The Apostle Paul dealt with a similar adversary when he was trying to appeal to the secular rulers in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12). A magician, called Elymas, was trying to obstruct the word of the Lord, and Paul confronted him. “…filled with the Holy Spirit, (Paul) looked intently at him and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?’” (v. 10 ESV).

Paul perceived the scheme of the enemy to twist and contort the truth and bound this spirit from further operation. Elymas was struck blind and had to be led around by others for a time. Because of this powerful demonstration of the Lord, the proconsul believed Paul’s word (v. 12)! Paul took his stand as a believer and declared that God’s ways would no longer be made crooked.

The picture that comes to mind is that of a garden hose that becomes knotted up. When there’s even one twist in the hose it will greatly diminish the flow of water coming out the other end. Until the knots and twists are straightened, the line is restricted and blocked. This illustrates what happens spiritually when the enemy seeks to twist and distort God’s intentions so that our prayers aren’t answered. The life flow of God’s Spirit is cut off because the line is so crooked.

The good news is that the power of the Holy Spirit can come to straighten out every twist and crook in the line.  When a hose is unkinked and the water comes through at full force, the hose is so full of pressure that anything previously stuck in the hose will be expelled. This is what will happen when we pray for the truth and power of the Holy Spirit to come. We can declare that the truth and power of God’s word will put pressure on the enemy to dislodge his lies, his schemes, his strategies, and every obstacle he has tried to put in our way!

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6-7).

Through our prayers, we can decree that the CROOKED PATHS WILL BE MADE STRAIGHT. Pray that things will come into alignment with God’s plans and purposes and all our steps will be ORDERED of the Lord: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand” (Psalm 37:23 ESV).

Through our faith-filled intercession, we can agree with God’s pathway for our future, confident that it will be made straight and clear of any and every hindrance.

“… make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:4-5 ESV).

• Wanda Alger, IFA Field Correspondent