The Principles of Prayer XVI

 To the enemy, a scalp is a scalp, but he would prefer a general over the bugler or the drummer boy. When God calls you to ministry your walk doesn’t become easier, it becomes exponentially more treacherous because the enemy is always looking for a weakness, a crack, a chink, something he can exploit and hobble your walk with. The epidemic of fallen and disgraced leaders we are currently witnessing isn’t because the devil suddenly decided to double his efforts; it's because this new crop of leaders failed to heed the lessons of the past and stopped being watchful, prayerful, studious, and on guard.

I’ve made it, Momma, I’ve made it. My congregation numbers in the thousands, I have a golden parachute to rival any executive, there’s even talk of a television deal and expanding to multiple campuses, and I’m as close to untouchable as you can get. And that’s when they take their foot off the gas. Not so much in trying to grow their brand, but in remaining steadfast in their commitment to obedience, and focusing on their spiritual man more than anything else. It’s not accidental, it’s the likely outcome of a pattern that has played out for millennia.

Regrettably, there are those who, having experienced a moment with God, rest on their past glories for the rest of their lives. They never strive for more, content with reliving that one divine touch. This complacency is perilous. We must not be satisfied with what we have received or experienced, but yearn for something deeper and more profound. The danger of complacency is the stagnation of our spiritual growth, a risk we cannot afford to take.

You often hear the testimonies of those who got saved twenty, thirty, even forty years ago, and when you press them a bit, and ask what they’ve done to grow since they get that blank look in their eyes, or give you the thousand-yard stare as though you’d asked about interdimensional travel. Just as fruit production defines a good tree, spiritual growth and maturity define a healthy believer.

If you’re in the same spiritual state today as you were ten years ago, ten months ago, or even ten days ago, perhaps it’s time to prioritize your spiritual man and begin consistently practicing those things which are proven to grow and strengthen him.   

If spending time in prayer, growing your faith, being in the Word, and walking humbly with the Lord were inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, why is the enemy doing his utmost to keep believers from doing these things? Do you honestly think he has your best interests at heart? Spoiler alert: he doesn’t, never has, and never will. His hatred for the children of God is blinding, stripping him of reason.  A roaring lion acts on instinct. He stalks his prey, looking for an opportunity to pounce. The enemy does much the same when encountering a child of God. It’s instinctual for him to go on the offensive, to attack, and attempt to destroy.

Faith acts as a shield against the enemy’s attacks, while prayer keeps us connected to God, able to receive instruction, direction, encouragement, and correction. If the enemy can convince a believer to minimize prayer and discount faith, half the battle is already lost or won, depending on which side you’re rooting for.

A weak, lethargic, and malnourished opponent is starting at a deficit even before taking their first steps onto the battlefield. We are witnessing countless spiritually emaciated souls believing themselves strong only until the first blow is struck and they realize that the enthusiasm and confidence they were feeling were manufactured and artificial, with no foundation or reserves of strength to draw from.

Certain things in life are achieved only by doing the work required to achieve them. There’s no way around it, there are no shortcuts, there are no alternatives, just dedication, commitment, and consistency. If you want to put on a few pounds of muscle, you must eat the appropriate amount of protein and lift heavy. Breathing exercises won’t help, repeating mantras in the mirror will do nothing for you, and wishing it were so will not make it happen, no matter how hard you wish for it.

Even those who resort to steroids at the expense of their long-term health still have to eat right and lift heavy in order to see the hoped-for results.

The same goes for a strong and robust spiritual man. Stretching one’s faith, growing it, maturing it, and applying it, coupled with a life of dedicated prayer, are what grow our spiritual man. There are no shortcuts, no way of circumventing the time and sweat equity required, and anyone who tells you different is trying to sell you something that will leave you disappointed and disillusioned at the end of the day.

We all remember those infomercials back in the day before people caught on to the fact that they were a bunch of lies. One pill a day is all you need to get lean and shredded. You can continue sitting on your couch eating three large pizzas per sitting, nothing needs to change, just take the pill and in no time flat, not only will you lose that stubborn belly fat, but you’ll put on so much muscle you’ll have to walk through your front door at an angle. They even went so far as to offer money-back guarantees, knowing that most people wouldn’t bother trying to get their forty bucks back after they put on another fifteen pounds of pure blubber and started experiencing sleep apnea.

The only ones still falling for the scams seem to be believers. Buy my course, attend my conference, take my workshop, and you too can be a spiritual powerhouse binding and loosing, casting out demons, and tearing down principalities and powers without having to mature, grow, pray, study, or pick up your cross daily. It’s new revelation, buddy! Never mind that every noteworthy individual in the history of Christendom followed the same well-trodden path, we have a fresh take on it where you can have the best of both worlds, have your cake and eat it too, live like the devil but still access the power of God at will. If it reads like a lie, sounds like a lie, feels like a lie, and contradicts the Word of God, then it’s a lie, and you should steer clear. 

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea, Jr.      

Posted on 2 May 2025 | 11:06 am