The Most Powerful Prayer Is Just One Word

How do we face and overcome the evil that lurks around us?  I learned a great and powerful prayer from a wonderful and godly woman.  She was my fifth-grade Sunday School teacher, and her name was Mrs. Beery.  She taught us a powerful, one-word prayer that has helped me through any dark times.

Read and reflect on these words from the Bible to get perspective on the reality of the spiritual enemy we all face. 

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Mrs. Beery, a dear saint of a woman, told us kids what she did when times were tough, when she was afraid, or when life was confusing.  I will never forget her simple yet deeply profound words.  She told our class that she would just say the name JESUS over and over again.  She would call on the name of Jesus.  She would celebrate the name Jesus.  She would declare the power of the glorious name of Jesus.  It was her powerful prayer!

That truth spoke to me, and I began to do what she said.  For decades now, I have followed that sage advice.  Sometimes I say His name in my thoughts.  At other times I would whisper it quietly.  Sometimes I would speak it out loud with bold confidence when I sense evil is near.  In every case, I trust in the name, power, and presence of Jesus, my Savior.

Decades later, I can say with absolute confidence that peace and strength have flooded my heart every time I have called upon His great Name: JESUS!

Every good parent knows that part of loving their child is giving warnings of any danger they may face.  God has done the same for us, His children.  He tells us that we have an enemy with power and only evil intent toward us.  God does not stop with warnings; He also gives us instructions on how to fight this enemy and remain victorious.  In Ephesians 6:10-18, we have our instruction on how we can stand strong in spiritual battles: 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

Several years ago I decided to read this passage every morning to prepare me to walk in victory all day long.  Would you join me in reading Ephesians 6:10-18 at the start of each day and putting on the whole armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand.  The Word of God is our offensive weapon, so there is no better place to start than to let this passage encourage you as you suit up for the enemy’s attacks on your life.  And remember what Mrs. Beery said; remember what Jesus offers you, and cry out His name: JESUS.