Prayer is warfare, and it is won by an army on its knees. After all, God didn’t tell us we would fight a war standing on earthly ground with physical swords.
He told us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV).
God does not force you to pray, He only asks. It is a request that requires your response. Certainly there will be times when you may say, “I don’t really feel like praying.” However, the way you feel is not the determining factor regarding whether or not you should pray.
Persistent, persevering, prevailing prayer is born out of your choices, not your feelings. And the enemy of your soul has no weapons to counter such…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
He told us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV).
God does not force you to pray, He only asks. It is a request that requires your response. Certainly there will be times when you may say, “I don’t really feel like praying.” However, the way you feel is not the determining factor regarding whether or not you should pray.
Persistent, persevering, prevailing prayer is born out of your choices, not your feelings. And the enemy of your soul has no weapons to counter such…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
I’ve mentioned before in this devotional that after my encounter with the Holy Spirit in 1973, I often attended the Friday night meetings at the Bezek retreat center near Campbellville, Ontario, about thirty miles southwest of Toronto, led by a wonderful man named Bernie Warren. He named the center Bezek after the place where the Israelites gathered to be refreshed and encouraged as they faced an important battle (1 Samuel 11).
I knew God had called me to preach the Gospel, yet I felt so inadequate, so unprepared. I had a life-long stuttering problem.
Even though I had yet to stand behind a pulpit, I identified with the Apostle Paul, who said, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
I simply had to preach the…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
I knew God had called me to preach the Gospel, yet I felt so inadequate, so unprepared. I had a life-long stuttering problem.
Even though I had yet to stand behind a pulpit, I identified with the Apostle Paul, who said, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
I simply had to preach the…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
How long has it been since you have found a place alone with God and talked about the promises He has declared to you?
In this passage from Genesis is an encounter which Jacob had with the Lord, and the circumstances were far from pleasant. Jacob was facing the most serious moment of his life. Earlier he had deceived his elderly father, Isaac, by pretending to be his brother Esau, and received his father’s blessing and his brother’s birthright. (Genesis 27)
Jacob was filled with remorse for what he had done, and after much time had passed he sent messengers to Esau in an attempt to arrange a meeting. He was ready to offer whatever was necessary “that I may find grace in thy…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
In this passage from Genesis is an encounter which Jacob had with the Lord, and the circumstances were far from pleasant. Jacob was facing the most serious moment of his life. Earlier he had deceived his elderly father, Isaac, by pretending to be his brother Esau, and received his father’s blessing and his brother’s birthright. (Genesis 27)
Jacob was filled with remorse for what he had done, and after much time had passed he sent messengers to Esau in an attempt to arrange a meeting. He was ready to offer whatever was necessary “that I may find grace in thy…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Jacob looked up to heaven and reminded God of His earlier promise to deal well with him: “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee.” (Genesis 32:9, KJV)
Oh, how Jacob cried: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant...Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children” (Genesis 32:10-11).
Then, in case the Lord had forgotten, Jacob prayed, “And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Oh, how Jacob cried: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant...Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children” (Genesis 32:10-11).
Then, in case the Lord had forgotten, Jacob prayed, “And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
If you want to intensify your prayer life, follow the example of Jacob. Surrounded by a cacophony of people and an impending confrontation with his brother Esau, he withdrew to a quiet place to talk with God. Scripture records that, “Jacob was left alone” (Genesis 32:24)
He separated his group into two companies or “bands” numbering 600 each—that’s 1,200 people. Quite a throng! And he knew, “If I’m going to have victory, I have to get away from all of these people and pray.” That’s exactly what he did!
Jacob needed a miracle. His 1,200 people were not trained warriors and were no match for Esau’s 400 battle-hardened…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
He separated his group into two companies or “bands” numbering 600 each—that’s 1,200 people. Quite a throng! And he knew, “If I’m going to have victory, I have to get away from all of these people and pray.” That’s exactly what he did!
Jacob needed a miracle. His 1,200 people were not trained warriors and were no match for Esau’s 400 battle-hardened…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Jacob faced a dilemma. He had prayed all night and wrestled with an angel with no results. And remember, his hip was out of joint!
With his brother approaching, accompanied by 400 seasoned warriors, he was in quite a predicament. Although independence and total reliance upon his own abilities had gotten him into the situation, he was now forced to lean upon the arm of the angel. The fact that he couldn’t even walk without assistance symbolized his dependence upon God. This was all in the Lord’s plan so Jacob would not trust in his own strength, but be forced to rely on the promises of the Almighty.
When it comes to prayer and knowing God’s will, sometimes it is so easy to give up before you receive the answer. We live in a fast-paced world where it can be easier to…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
With his brother approaching, accompanied by 400 seasoned warriors, he was in quite a predicament. Although independence and total reliance upon his own abilities had gotten him into the situation, he was now forced to lean upon the arm of the angel. The fact that he couldn’t even walk without assistance symbolized his dependence upon God. This was all in the Lord’s plan so Jacob would not trust in his own strength, but be forced to rely on the promises of the Almighty.
When it comes to prayer and knowing God’s will, sometimes it is so easy to give up before you receive the answer. We live in a fast-paced world where it can be easier to…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
It’s so easy to give up on God and His timetable, but the effects of doing it yourself can be disastrous!
After the Commandments were delivered and the tabernacle was built, the people became restless when Moses was on Mount Sinai, talking with God.
These are the same individuals who were fed with manna from heaven and had seen God divide the sea. They witnessed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and now they were complaining.
God saw Moses in the mountain and declared, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
After the Commandments were delivered and the tabernacle was built, the people became restless when Moses was on Mount Sinai, talking with God.
These are the same individuals who were fed with manna from heaven and had seen God divide the sea. They witnessed the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and now they were complaining.
God saw Moses in the mountain and declared, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
There is amazing power when you pray with the promises of God. Moses and Jacob claimed the declarations of the Lord. And in this passage of Acts 4, so did Peter and John.
After the two disciples had been threatened by the Pharisees not to preach in the name of Christ, they gathered with fellow believers and became proclaiming God’s promises.
Of course God knew what His Word proclaimed, yet Peter makes a point of repeating it again. “Lord, you said ‘Why do the heathen rage?’ You declared that ‘the rulers would stand up’ You said, Lord!”
After praying the promises of God, Peter stated, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
After the two disciples had been threatened by the Pharisees not to preach in the name of Christ, they gathered with fellow believers and became proclaiming God’s promises.
Of course God knew what His Word proclaimed, yet Peter makes a point of repeating it again. “Lord, you said ‘Why do the heathen rage?’ You declared that ‘the rulers would stand up’ You said, Lord!”
After praying the promises of God, Peter stated, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
In the Old Covenant, God announced He would send the Messiah, and a man named Simeon prayed it would come to pass: “And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26, KJV). So when Jesus was brought to the temple, Simeon took Him into his arms, and thanked God for fulfilling the long-held promise.
So should we pray the prophetic scriptures from God’s Word:
* • Father, You declared, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee” (Psalm 22:27, KJV).
Jesus, You promised, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
So should we pray the prophetic scriptures from God’s Word:
* • Father, You declared, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee” (Psalm 22:27, KJV).
Jesus, You promised, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Did you know that prophecy can be prayed into fulfillment? In fact, there may be times when a prophecy will not come to pass unless you pray it into existence. This is illustrated in the life of Daniel.
Daniel was reading the Word of God when he realized that the Lord had promised the destruction of Jerusalem, yet it had not happened. He declared, “ I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:2).
What was Daniel’s response? He stood on the Word and prayed. “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Daniel was reading the Word of God when he realized that the Lord had promised the destruction of Jerusalem, yet it had not happened. He declared, “ I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:2).
What was Daniel’s response? He stood on the Word and prayed. “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
God’s covenant is essential to intercessory prayer. There are numerous examples throughout the Bible, including Abraham and his nephew Lot.
One day Lot commented to his uncle, “Let’s divide the land. I’ll take one portion and you take the other.” Abraham agreed and said, “You take whatever side you wish.” Lot looked over the territory and chose all the plain of Jordan to the east. Then they separated from each other (Genesis 13:11).
Wickedness ruled the area where Lot lived, and when God decided to obliterate Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin cities of the plains, Abraham pleaded that the Lord would not destroy the righteous with…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
One day Lot commented to his uncle, “Let’s divide the land. I’ll take one portion and you take the other.” Abraham agreed and said, “You take whatever side you wish.” Lot looked over the territory and chose all the plain of Jordan to the east. Then they separated from each other (Genesis 13:11).
Wickedness ruled the area where Lot lived, and when God decided to obliterate Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin cities of the plains, Abraham pleaded that the Lord would not destroy the righteous with…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities of depravity and immorality. Scripture records:
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
(Genesis 19:14).
Lot wasn’t taken seriously. He was not only living in fear (Genesis 19:19), but his clear instruction was ignored even by his wife. She was so attached to the world that she “looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).
Despite all the controversy and turmoil, God honored His covenant with Abraham and his family. Lot was rescued from a terrible fate, all because of his uncle’s prayers.
We must all learn to stand on the Word and intercede for others. Jesus even told us to pray for our adversaries: “But I say to you, love your…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
(Genesis 19:14).
Lot wasn’t taken seriously. He was not only living in fear (Genesis 19:19), but his clear instruction was ignored even by his wife. She was so attached to the world that she “looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).
Despite all the controversy and turmoil, God honored His covenant with Abraham and his family. Lot was rescued from a terrible fate, all because of his uncle’s prayers.
We must all learn to stand on the Word and intercede for others. Jesus even told us to pray for our adversaries: “But I say to you, love your…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
As with Abraham and Lot, we know if the Lord can find just one person who will seek His face and live righteously, the tide of events will turn.
Likewise, in this passage from Ezekiel, God didn’t seek an angel, He searched for an individual like you and me to fill the breach.
What was the outcome?
“Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 22:31).
It is sad but true that God must say…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Likewise, in this passage from Ezekiel, God didn’t seek an angel, He searched for an individual like you and me to fill the breach.
What was the outcome?
“Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 22:31).
It is sad but true that God must say…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Let me give you a word of warning. Just when you think you have reached the top of your spiritual mountain, often the enemy of your soul likes to launch a major assault against you.
A minister in New York once warned me, “For more than two years, every time I prayed, the most vile, filthy thoughts seized my mind. And when I began to read the Word, I was distracted by something out of the blue. I finally realized that Satan was behind all of these attacks, and I had to literally rebuke the devil in the…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
A minister in New York once warned me, “For more than two years, every time I prayed, the most vile, filthy thoughts seized my mind. And when I began to read the Word, I was distracted by something out of the blue. I finally realized that Satan was behind all of these attacks, and I had to literally rebuke the devil in the…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
There is a deadly enemy out there who would love to destroy every prayer that you utter. In fact, he would like for you to believe he doesn’t exist.
What are we to do?
Take the authority of God’s Word and rebuke every evil force that would stand against you. God is not looking simply for religious activity in your life. He desires that His power might flow through you.
We are in combat with the forces of darkness, and our prayers need to reflect who we are:
God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
What are we to do?
Take the authority of God’s Word and rebuke every evil force that would stand against you. God is not looking simply for religious activity in your life. He desires that His power might flow through you.
We are in combat with the forces of darkness, and our prayers need to reflect who we are:
God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
I have met individuals who have allowed the enemy to keep them in a perpetual state of worry and anxiety. They fail to comprehend that God is ready and able to fight their battles.
He said to the children of Israel, “I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword” (Leviticus 26:6-7, KJV).
One of the great lessons in the Old Testament is that before you can be victorious in a physical battle, you must…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
He said to the children of Israel, “I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword” (Leviticus 26:6-7, KJV).
One of the great lessons in the Old Testament is that before you can be victorious in a physical battle, you must…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Immediately after the Master told us how to pray, He shared the parable about persistence in Luke 11. Jesus concluded the story by making this point: “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need” (Luke 11:8, MSG).
The man received the bread because he wouldn’t give up. He exercised resolve, tenacity and persistence, and that brought the results he was seeking.
Being persistent in the area of personal or intercessory prayer is vital. The wonderful Bible teacher Andrew Murray said it…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
The man received the bread because he wouldn’t give up. He exercised resolve, tenacity and persistence, and that brought the results he was seeking.
Being persistent in the area of personal or intercessory prayer is vital. The wonderful Bible teacher Andrew Murray said it…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Once, when the stress of administering a large ministry seemed overwhelming and I was caught up in all the details that I needed to do, I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion and had a dream. I saw Jesus walking, and a large crowd was following Him. Then I heard His voice calling to me. He said, “Benny, you have some catching up to do.” I saw myself running, getting closer to Jesus.
When I awoke I thought, “Lord, what does that mean?” God spoke to me and said, “Get back to your calling. Get back to prayer.”
That morning, I reaffirmed my commitment to obey God’s mandate on my life: to take the message of God’s saving and healing power to…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
When I awoke I thought, “Lord, what does that mean?” God spoke to me and said, “Get back to your calling. Get back to prayer.”
That morning, I reaffirmed my commitment to obey God’s mandate on my life: to take the message of God’s saving and healing power to…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
I especially love this verse from the timeless hymn, “Amazing Grace”:
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The grace of God is something that must be fully understood to live the abundant life in Jesus Christ. When you finally realize that your flesh can do nothing to save you, keep you, or produce spiritual fruit in your life, your life will begin to change in ways you never imagined, especially in the area of persevering prayer.
You are His workmanship! May God open our eyes, more than ever before, to see that He…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The grace of God is something that must be fully understood to live the abundant life in Jesus Christ. When you finally realize that your flesh can do nothing to save you, keep you, or produce spiritual fruit in your life, your life will begin to change in ways you never imagined, especially in the area of persevering prayer.
You are His workmanship! May God open our eyes, more than ever before, to see that He…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
The Bible refers to unity and agreement in a number of places. Amost 3:3 tells us, “How can two walk together. unless they agree?” Psalm 133:1 is another great example of this powerful principles, as well as Acts 2.
To agree biblically means that believers are of one heart and mind when it comes a particular issue or task to expand the Kingdom. I have referred previously to Matthew 18:19-20. Jesus placed Himself in the midst of that prayer. He pointed out that there is power in agreement. When believers unite in belief, He promises to be in the midst.
Far too often, we keep our petitions to ourselves, believing that prayer should only be “between me and God.” Isn’t it time we…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/
To agree biblically means that believers are of one heart and mind when it comes a particular issue or task to expand the Kingdom. I have referred previously to Matthew 18:19-20. Jesus placed Himself in the midst of that prayer. He pointed out that there is power in agreement. When believers unite in belief, He promises to be in the midst.
Far too often, we keep our petitions to ourselves, believing that prayer should only be “between me and God.” Isn’t it time we…
Continue reading at https://www.bennyhinn.org/good-morning-holy-spirit/