Victory in Spiritual Battle (2 Samuel 8:14)

And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
—2 Samuel 8:14

Is that not a great verse? Just a simple sentence that states such a significant reality: “The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.” Do you hear the language there? The Lord gave this to David. Victory comes from the Lord. It’s a gift of God’s grace.

When you think about it, it is one of the reasons why we pray, right? Because we are all involved in spiritual battle. We all have challenges we are facing. I think about what I was reading the other day in 1 Corinthians 10: “Take heed lest you fall” amidst all the temptations that surround you. Every single one of us is surrounded by temptations today.

I think about other spiritual battles. I think about the battles for souls that are happening all around us—family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors who don’t know Jesus. And we want to see them come to know him. The nations who don’t know Jesus, people groups who have not yet been reached by the gospel—we want them to be reached. And in all of these ways, we find ourselves praying every day, “God, please give victory in the battle.”

2 Samuel 8:14 explains our confidence in spiritual battle.

So let’s pray:

God, as we face many different temptations today—every single one of us in all of our lives—we pray that you would give us victory over temptation. Even as we pray that, we praise you for the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13, that you are faithful and you will enable us to endure every temptation by your grace as we trust in you and live in the power of your Spirit.

So grant us victory over sin and temptation today. God, we want to pray that every day: Please give us victory over sin and temptation.

And God, we think specifically about friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, and people we will see today who don’t know you. There is an adversary who is keeping them from the knowledge of you. God, we pray, in light of 2 Corinthians 4, where the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, that you would help us to preach Christ. Help us to preach Jesus today. Help us to proclaim the good news of the gospel.

God, we pray that you would give victory in spiritual battle, that you would give salvation to people today through our lives. God, we want to lead somebody to Jesus today. This week, help us to lead somebody to Jesus.

A Prayer for Missionaries

God, we pray for our brothers and sisters who are serving on the front lines among unreached people around the world. God, for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan right now, in Yemen, in Somalia, in Saudi Arabia—God, we pray that you would give them success. Give them victory in sharing the gospel and leading people to Jesus. God, we pray for missionaries and brothers and sisters around the world in hard to reach places. Give them victory, we pray. Please give them victory. Give them grace, boldness, and supernatural power to proclaim the gospel and to lead people to Jesus. We pray that for them; we pray that for us.

God, we know that victory is only possible from you when you give it. And even as we pray this, we praise you that the ultimate victory has been won. For the way, Jesus, you have conquered sin, death, and the grave, and you have made eternal life possible for all of us so that we don’t have to fear anything. For we know that when we die, it will be gain because you have promised victory to all who trust in you.

All glory be to your name for the victory you give. In Jesus’ name we pray, according to 2 Samuel 8:14. Amen.