Father, we are so grateful for the power of prayer and its positive affect in our lives. Yet we confess that we don’t avail ourselves to Your prescribed means of communication nearly as often as we should. Jesus quoted Scripture when refuting Satan’s temptations in the wilderness experience and He spent time in intense prayer when He needed strength, courage, and faith for the trials that lay ahead. We likewise pray for our brothers and sisters, that their faith in You will mature and that they will remain faithful in times of testing. We pray for ourselves that we will stand firm and remain confident in our Christian faith as we oppose the evil forces in this world. In the name of Jesus we ask these things. Amen.