Praying the 91st Psalm Over Your Soldier

Readings / April 20, 2019

In all our wars there have been soldiers who have looked to God for help. Many have learned the value of praying the 91st Psalm. In fact, one of my father’s close friends was an American fighter pilot who got shot down during World War II. He was captured and incarcerated for almost 22 months in a prison camp.

One day he looked outside and the sky was covered with B-24s and B-17s. The prisoners were shouting with joy to realize they would be rescued, but then it dawned on them that they might get killed in the crossfire. Our friend dove under a bed along with two other fellows—one Jewish, the other Catholic. During the time he was a POW, he diligently confessed Psalm 91, and that’s what started coming out of his mouth: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust…. A thousand shall fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come nigh me!” The Jewish boy jumped right in, then the Catholic boy said, “God, I don’t know it all by heart, but amen, amen, amen!”

The prison camp was leveled. The hospital was leveled. There was nothing left but about $4 worth of rubble—and one little bed and three fellows under it who were trusting God.

That is what Psalm 91 will do in combat!

Gloria and I have been honored to minister to military personnel in person and through teachings about the divine protection that’s available to them as described in Psalm 91. We are thrilled when we receive letters from soldiers who have taken hold of this truth in their own lives.

Years ago, when I spoke to the troops I told them, “I’m giving you an assignment. You had to learn the orders of the day, now learn God’s order of the day—Psalm 91!”

Here it is:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

If you are standing in faith for the protection of your soldier, then begin praying the 91st Psalm over him or her today. Don’t wait another minute to take a stand in the Spirit for their safe return.

 

 

Written with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries©

How to Get Your Prayers Answered

Readings / April 20, 2019

If you’re not satisfied with the results you’re getting from your prayers, there’s a word in the Bible that can help you: receive. That one simple word can make your prayers more effective. It can take you from wanting and wishing to knowing—absolutely—that you have the answer to your prayers.

That is how God intends for you to pray. He never meant for His children to spend hours talking to Him about everything in the world and then walk away with nothing to show for it. No, God’s will is for you to “…come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive…” (Hebrews 4:16). He wants you to follow the instructions Jesus gave in Mark 11:24: “What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (KJV).

Look at the word “receive.” In the original Greek, it’s defined as “to take.” So it’s actually scriptural to say, “Whatever you desire when you pray, believe that you take it, and you shall have it.”

The word take puts prayer in a whole new light! It tells us that if you want to get what you pray for, you can’t just say, “Lord, I want this and I want that.” You can’t just hope and pray that God is generally good and He will bless you somehow. You have to reach out by faith, take hold of the thing you’re believing to receive, possess it and make it your own.

So following what Jesus said in Mark 11, here are four steps to getting your prayers answered:

Step 1 to Getting Your Prayers Answered: Have Faith

Everything Jesus purchased for you through His life, death and resurrection—victory over sin, joy, peace, healing or financial abundance—develops in your life by faith. Mark 11:22-23 demonstrates that you must have faith in order receive answers to your prayers. We must have faith in both His ability and His willingness to give us what we ask. To learn more about faith that pleases God, read this article, “How Do I Receive Faith”.

Step 2 to Getting Your Prayers Answered: Speak Faith

Once you’ve established your faith on God and His Word, you’re ready to put your faith into action by speaking. You’re ready to say what you want to come to pass. Jesus told us to speak words of faith over the natural situations in our lives. Remember the fig tree in Mark 11; Jesus spoke to it and it died. In the same way, when you ask God for something, you take it, believing that you have it from the moment you ask.

Step 3 to Getting Your Prayers Answered: Refuse Doubt

Once you’ve begun to speak words of faith based on God’s Word, refuse to take the devil’s doubts. Refuse to believe and receive his lies. Think again about what Jesus said and you’ll see why that’s so important. He told us that “whosoever shall say…and shall not doubt in his heart…shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23, KJV). Doubting is dangerous! If the devil can put doubt in your heart, it will soon be in your mouth, and he can steal the blessings of God.

Step 4 to Getting Your Prayers Answered: Start Forgiving

According to Jesus, there’s one more thing we must do before your prayer of receiving is complete. “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (Mark 11:25).

As an obedient believer who wants to receive from God, you can’t afford to hold anything against anyone. The reason is simple: Faith doesn’t work in an unforgiving heart, so if you won’t forgive, you can’t believe and receive.

Instead of hoping and praying, you can start praying and taking (receiving). And that’s not only rewarding…it’s a whole lot of fun!

 

 

Written with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries©