For the Conquest of Satan
“The God of peace sTaall “bruise Satan under your feet
shortly.” — Hom. xvi. 20.
O God, I bless Thee for the returning mercies of a new day. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked: for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands that have set themselves against me.” Vouchsafe me, I beseech Thee, thy fatherly protection and blessing, that all my thoughts may be ordered by Thee, and all my plans and purposes overruled by Thee, and all my joys hallowed by Thee, and all my sorrows sanctified by Thee. Keep me near Thyself. While I seek to realize, every hour of this day, the power and subtilty of my spiritual adversaries, may I rejoice in the assurance that greater is He that is with me than all they that can be against me — that, “though an host should encamp against me,” with God on my side, “I need fear no evil.”
I mourn the prevalence of sin, both in the world and in my own heart. Thy creation still groans and travails under its power. “The Prince of the power of the air still works in the children of disobedience.” “The whole world lieth in the Wicked One.” Often is Satan still “desiring to have me, that he might sift me as wheat” — “standing at my right hand to resist me” — to oppose my plea and damage my cause, — sending some “thorn in the flesh to buffet me” — marring my peace, disturbing my joy, and hindering and impeding my spiritual growth and advancement. But, Lord, it is my comfort to know that there is in heaven a “stronger than the strong man” — that no time can impair or diminish the comfort of the assurance, “Zhave prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” When Satan assaults, blessed Jesus, I will think of
Thj continual intercession. “Thy hand is never shortened, that it cannot save.”
May I ever have grace given me to “resist the devil, that he may flee from me” — to keep watchfully guarded every loophole of the heart. May I abstain from all appearance of evil, avoiding every place and every company where his unholy influences are likely to prevail. “Lead me not into temptation,” and, if tempted. Lord, make a way of escape, that I may be able to bear it.
O Thou adorable Intercessor within the veil, it is my comfort to know that, in Thy season of humiliation on earth. Thou wert “not ignorant of his devices.” Thou didst also, of him, “suffer, being tempted,” and Thou art therefore the more able “to succor I them that are tempted.” I rejoice to think that, exalted on Thy mediatorial throne, Thou shalt reign until Satan and every other enemy be put under Thy feet, and until the kingdoms of this world (so long usurped by him) shall become the “one kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.”
Heavenly Father, take this day all my beloved friends under Thy guardian care. May they dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. May they, too, be able to take up the triumphant challenge — “God is for us, who’ can be against us?” and when their earthly work and warfare is accomjjlished, may we all meet in that sinless world where Satan’s seat no more can be found, and Satan’s temptations shall no longer be felt or feared. And all that I ask is for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“CAUSE ME TO HEAR THY LOVING-KINDNESS IN THE MORNING, FOR IN THEE DO I TRUST.”