|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"1 (Lyrics) |
Ephesians 6:12 – 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. (NKJV)
A few years ago, I was employed by the Salvation Army as a bail supervisor. My work entailed receiving, by court order, individuals who required weekly appointments at our office, and reminding the bail clients of their conditions of release. Opportunities were also there for me to arrange for and/or to provide personal life counselling. There is one experience with a client I will never forget.
A gentleman was assigned to me who was charged with allegedly having sexual relations with his 14-year-old daughter. It was disturbing to me because he was a professing Christian. I could see that he was in deep distress about the whole issue.
The client shared that his older daughter, with whom he had issues, urged the younger one go to the police and falsely have them lay charges against him. He felt that this was an exercise in vengeance from her because of their troubled relationship.
I sensed that there might be evil spirits involved in this situation, infusing into his daughter's mind actions to do damage to her father's reputation as a Christian.
Revelation 12:10b – For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (NKJV)
Remembering this Scripture, I prayed with my client that God would hold His hand against all evil spirits that were enticing his daughters to accuse him falsely.
A week later, he brought his two daughters into my office to meet me. They had gone to the police, confessing that they had just drummed up the allegations against their father. The charges were dismissed, and he no longer had to report to me. This procedure rarely happens, but with God, anything is possible.
Not all of our troubles stem from the attacks of evil spirits, but we need to pray for discernment as one of the spiritual gifts.
Prayer: Lord teach us, we pray, to be more effective in our supplications, realizing who the enemy really is. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Sunday, January 26, 2025 – In Asia — Pray for wisdom for my team and me. We started going through weekly coaching with an organization which teaches us how to use social media as a means of sharing the good news. Pray for God's leading as we put this into practice and encourage those who follow our website to start meeting in person and studying the Bible together. I am thankful for their vision for in-person discipleship. Pray the Lord will bless many other ministries through this organization.
Child custody: "January 23, 2025: Urgent prayer request: please pray for a young friend Tessa who has court dates..." 
Car stolen: "January 23, 2025: Please pray for my friend who had her car stolen. She is a single parent and..." 
Thanks for sharing Allan.
Oh the power of prayer!!
Thanks al, because of prayers like this I am always growing in Christ.
Dear Allan,
A timely word well said.
This is a very needful topic that should be honestly addressed in the evil days we are living in.
Thanks for writing about the need to pray for discernment. God protect you from a backlash.
It is so good to read about praying against the powers of darkness.
I have been fortunate to have been a member of 2 churches, one in Sask. the other in On. where the pastors provided a deliverance ministry.
Now more than ever this is so needed.
God Bless you Allan.
How right and wonderful is the abiity to turn all things over to our God, who is sufficient-praying this morning for you and all who will read your words. Having a visit with my eldest child and NOT REMEMBERING things that came between us when she was growing up. Her own children are well into adulthood, and the sharing is mostly about them.I pray that I will have good advice to her. As the first words here, the only way to have good family is to enter God into the mix-at the top of the mix on this day and forward. Have a great day and holiday time coming up.
Dear Allen;
I too have encountered the forces of evil –in a young lady my husband and I were mentoring several years ago, at her request.
Thank God for people like you who have a discerning spirit, and are willing to come up against these forces, and bring them face to face with truth as revealed in God’s word. It takes courage, and a willingness to place yourself in a vulnerable position!! And they don’t usually leave without a fight!!!
Blessings.
Praying against evil spirits? What is the Presbyterian Church in Canada coming too? !
Seriously, it caught my attention as this is not something one expects to hear within most Presbyterian circles.
I was speaking a week or so ago to a colleague, Stephen Dunkin, and remarked that we are engaged in spiritual warfare for which most Presbyterians are ill-prepared. So much of it is subtle, which is why it goes unnoticed or chalked up to personality or legitimate differences of opinion, or any one of a number of other things.
Would be interested in hearing what kind of response is forthcoming from others. Perhaps you should expand this into an article for the Record.
Grace and peace to you my brother.