“And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.” Exodus 17:11 (NKJV)
When you experience a problem, you may often think that the battle lies with your child, spouse, co-worker, or other challenging person. But the Bible teaches that we are to fight our battles in prayer. When the Israelites were in a battle with the Amalekites, it was not the hand-to-hand combat or the war strategy that mattered. As long as Moses had his hands raised (representing intercessory prayer), the Israelites prevailed, but when his hands came down, they would begin to lose. So Aaron and Hur ran up and held his hands up. This story teaches us a powerful truth.
When you keep your hands raised in prayer, you are creating a funnel where the power of God can be channeled. By praying, God’s victory can flow from Heaven to earth. Abraham was noted for two things. He built altars, and he pitched tents. If you want to build a happy home, build an altar. If you want to create a successful business, build an altar first and then pitch that tent because one is vitally connected to the other. Prayer is the means by which we win the victory in any area of life.
Whenever Jesus encountered a problem, sickness, disease, or evil spirit, the first thing He did was pray. Prayer was in His very nature. God wants us to be people of prayer because prayer can change things more than any other force on this earth. Prayer is our direct link to God’s power. The next time you experience a problem or want to start something new, climb the mountain of prayer. Prayer aligns your will with God’s and paves the way for success.
It is easy to talk about people, analyze situations, or try to fix things in your own strength, but the real shift happens when you step into prayer first. Even in 2 Chronicles 20:12, King Jehoshaphat prayed, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” That moment of surrender released a victory they did not have to fight for. Before you react, before you respond, before you try to control the outcome, pause and pray. Lift your hands spiritually and let God fight what you cannot see.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to fight my battles in prayer first. Help me to lift my hands and trust You with what I cannot control. Remind me to turn to You before I react, and let Your power flow into every situation I face. Amen.
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