Prayer & the Prince of Persia
Friday, January 31, 2025
“When you attempt to bring God’s presence into a domain that the enemy has held for centuries, you ignite the principalities that guard that stronghold. They will react to God’s presence.” – Os Hillman
January 1, 1994…
That was the day that I entered full-time prison ministry.
January 20, 1994… that was the day that our 2-year-old son suffered a massive stroke.
Was it a coincidence that our son’s stroke occurred just 19 days after I entered full-time ministry? I don’t think so, and neither did my boss at the time.
“Don’t be surprised if Satan starts ramping up his attacks against you and your family,” he warned me. “You’ve gone from the sidelines to the front lines and now he has you in his crosshairs.”
Gulp!
Thankfully, our son recovered from his stroke although he still has some residual effects such as limited use of his right hand. But that hasn’t stopped Satan from going after my family and me whenever he has the chance.
That is why Deanna and I were so grateful when a dedicated Christian couple volunteered to pray for our family every day. The prayer covering they provided helped to keep Satan and his minions at bay.
That couple has since gone home to be with the Lord and so, the responsibility to pray earnestly and fervently for our family has fallen onto us. Each day, I take turns praying for a different child, their spouse, their children, and every other aspect of their lives. I also pray just as diligently for Deanna and me, our extended family and friends, and any other pressing needs.
As Os Hillman went on to say…
“It is important to approach Satan’s strongholds with coordinated prayer before attempting an invasion. It's like sending an advance wave of attack aircraft before the ground troops come in. You soften up the opposition considerably.”
“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:13-13 (BSB)
