Sunday Mornings – The Presidential Prayer Team

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. – 1 John 3:8

Some have called Sunday mornings “the devil’s happy hour.” When you think about it, you may be able to understand why. The stress of getting ready for church service can offer opportunities for discord between spouses or parents and children. Some churches no longer preach about the need for humility, confession, and repentance, offering their congregations a watered-down gospel that does not equip them for the spiritual realities of life. Other churches preach legalism, filled with guilt, shame, and the law, and do not preach the freedom by grace that came through Christ’s work on the cross. And then still, there is the temptation to return to the pre-church service strife as churchgoers hunt for lunch in the midst of the Sunday noon traffic.

The enemy doesn’t care which ditch believers fall into, as long as it is a ditch that distracts us from our fulfilling relationship with our Creator.

Remember the power of God’s love for the sinner, of Christ’s redeeming work on the cross, and of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. As the pressures of life and the natural tendency to self-centeredness incline believers to give in to the sinful nature, meditate on today’s verse. The Savior came to destroy the enemy’s works – Hallelujah!

While the devil works to distract humans from their need for salvation, the Lord is there to strengthen and guide those who turn to Him for help. As you go through this Christmas season, remind yourself and those around you that Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost. He wants you to seek intimacy with Him, to follow His example, and to rely on His Spirit to make you more like Him. His work is your work. Confidence and boldness are yours when you ask. And not just on Sundays, but every day.

Pray for American believers this month to remember that Christ remains victorious and the enemy is a conquered foe. Ask that they would seek to follow Him more closely and reflect His love and goodness.

Today’s Verse: 1 John 3:8

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

10 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— ²I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. ³For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.