For many years there has been an urgency to tarry all night in prayer until the breaking of the day. I have stumbled along the way and failed several times to pray the whole night through because it seemed futile. One particular morning after being in prayer all night, I lay upon my bed to get some much-needed sleep. No sooner had I lay down, a man arose from the bed and began to beat me with severe blows, on top of my head which left me completely stunned and puzzled all at the same time because he looked exactly like my husband, why are you beating me? However, this infuriated him. He replied I am beating you for your prayers his true identity was revealed as he floated in the midair and positioned himself above the bedhead I noticed a concealed weapon in his right hand and prayed to Abba Father, “get me out of this” and awakened perturbed but Abba’s Father took me to the book of Acts chapter 16 and reminded me of Paul and Silas who were beaten and imprisoned for delivering a young girl from fortune-telling. Let’s read from the verse (20) And brought them to the magistrates, saying, these men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. Verse (21) And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive neither to observe, being Romans. Verse (22) And the multitude rose together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. Verse (23) And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison charging the jailer to keep them safe. The verse (25) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. The next verse opened my dark understanding. Verse (26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately everyone’s bands were loosed. Verse (27) And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. Verse (28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm for we are all here. Verse (29) Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell before Paul and Silas, verse (30) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Verse (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

The Power of Prayer will unmask the spirit of deception in your life but maybe because of harsh persecution and discouragement for all I know, you may have become careless about prayer. Perhaps you have been deeply hurt consequently you have put down the Mantle of Prayer. Whatever has caused you to be absent from prayer, I issue this challenge to you (me too) pick up the Mantle of Prayer and reposition yourself on the Prayer Wall Today. It begins with Faith. Paul and Silas’ answer to the Philippian Jailer’s question is the essence of Salvation. Belief includes the idea of total trust, dependence, and submission of oneself to Christ as LORD. To be converted is to be delivered. Then my heart leaped for joy after encountering such a severe beating for praying through to the dawning of the morning. What a comforting assurance of knowing, to be saved is to be delivered. Yes, delivered from the very presence of sin and evil.

In closing, the man I had encountered in my dream was a dark spirit impersonating my husband, accompanied by lies and deception. The attack was launched when I was at my weakest and weary but through the power of prayer. Abba Father gave me the strategy and the tool for the adversary to reveal himself. Take note: the appearance was as I lay on my bed that it was my husband, who launched the attack. I was stunned, weary and worn, however, the question, “Why are you beating me?” (I knew during our thirty-six years of marriage; my husband has never raised his hand to hit me) caused the wicked spirit to fly up and I was able to see the instrument in his hand and as he positioned himself to use it on me, I cried out to Abba Father, get me out of this! The Power of Prayer not only unmasked the spirit of deception but also delivered me victoriously out of the hand of the wicked spirit and crushed its power. No matter what you are facing, increase your prayers, fasting and in the study of Abba Father’s Word. The Power of Prayer will Unmask the Spirit of Deception!