Prayer – The Lifeline to Victory

Prayer – The Lifeline to Victory 

The essential role of prayer in connecting with God and achieving victory in spiritual battles.

Story: Prayer is our lifeline to God—a direct line of communication that strengthens us during spiritual warfare. It connects us to the power of the cross, where ultimate victory was won. As I always say, as believers, we don’t fight for victory; we fight from the victory that Jesus already won at Calvary's Cross. The Bible promises that Jesus will return to take His soldiers—His children—home. But until the trumpet sounds, we remain soldiers on the battlefield we call Earth, standing firm in the power of His victory.

Often, people ask me how I was able to become victorious after surviving various abuses as a child and young adult. My answer is always the same: forgiveness. In fact, let me tell you a quick story about forgiveness.

When I came to Puerto Rico in May 2022 to become a Chaplain, it was hard to acclimate to the Puerto Rican customs. There is such a thing as "Island Time" and an "Island Algorithm," and it was challenging for me at first. I remember there was a security guard who disliked me. It began when I decided to park in the main parking lot instead of off-site parking because I didn’t know where off-site parking was located. This security guard brought it to my attention but with a mean attitude. I must admit that my response matched his attitude. After parking, my spirit was troubled, so I prayed and went outside toward the security guard to ask if I could speak with him. He agreed, and I proceeded to ask for forgiveness for how I had responded to him. He accepted my apology and said it was okay. Mind you, he had already been rude from the beginning, but this incident didn’t help matters.

At first, I thought his behavior was because I was from the United States, but no—he treated others from the United States with kindness and respect.

One day, I asked him if I had done anything wrong to him. He said no and assured me that everything was fine. Despite his assurances, he continued treating me poorly. I began praying for him. He would be very mean to me; yet, I prayed even more. He would ignore me—walking past me while deliberately turning away when I greeted him with “Good morning.” Despite his actions, I kept forgiving him and praying for him.

In early 2024, after prayer, the Lord impressed upon me to leave this security guard alone and give him space while continuing to pray for him. Only if he reached out to me was I to respond lovingly. At first, I didn’t understand this directive, but I followed my orders.

It hurt me greatly that this security guard would deliberately try to hurt my feelings; however, I continued following my orders—to forgive and pray. It was a rough time.

In February 2025, this security guard came to my office. He knocked on the door, entered, and asked if he could speak with me. I said sure.

He walked into my office and began crying profusely. Concerned, I got up from my chair and went over to him. I asked what was wrong and how I could help him. Through his tears, he asked me a question that I will never forget: “Can you forgive me for how I’ve treated you these past two years?”

I embraced him warmly and said, “You have been forgiven every day—I’ve been praying for you.” He then explained that he had been having encounters with God every morning since the beginning of the year. During one of his daily devotionals, the Lord told him he must come to me and ask for forgiveness for how he had treated me over the past two-and-a-half years.

As he spoke, I could visibly see a change in his demeanor—he had been touched by the Holy Spirit. We both cried and prayed together. Afterward, he said: “Whatever you need, please know that I am here for you. God bless you.”

I ask you: What would have happened if I had chosen not to forgive? Things would have turned out very differently indeed.

Forgiveness is one of the most crucial steps toward healing and victory—but it’s not something you can do on your own. You need God’s help; you need the leading of the Holy Spirit; and you need faith in Jesus Christ, who gives us strength through His sacrifice on the cross.

I remember a time when life’s trials left me feeling so broken that I couldn’t even find words to pray. As someone who endured childhood abuse—whether sexual, emotional, physical, spiritual, or verbal—I often questioned whether my prayers were even heard. But one day, Ephesians 6:18 reminded me: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...” This verse taught me that prayer isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence.

Even when words failed me, simple prayers like “Lord, help me” or reciting Scriptures like Isaiah 41:10 (“Fear thou not; for I am with thee”) reignited my connection with God over time and gave me renewed strength. Prayer became my lifeline to victory—a reminder that I wasn’t fighting alone but through Christ’s triumph at Calvary.

Relevance Today

In today’s fast-paced world filled with distractions and challenges, maintaining a consistent prayer life can be difficult but is vital for spiritual growth and resilience. Prayer connects us to God’s strength and wisdom, enabling us to stand firm against spiritual attacks and navigate life’s battles confidently.

As soldiers in Christ’s army, we are called to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Whether interceding for loved ones or seeking guidance for ourselves, prayer remains our most powerful weapon in spiritual warfare.

Bible Verses

“Pray without ceasing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...” - Ephesians 6:18

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” - Isaiah 41:10

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Call to Action

Set aside dedicated time each day for prayer—even if it’s just five minutes to start.

Incorporate Scripture into your prayers for added strength and focus (e.g., Isaiah 41:10).

Reflect on how Christ’s victory at Calvary empowers you to overcome life’s challenges.

Share your testimony of how prayer has strengthened your faith with someone who may need encouragement.

Things To Remember

Prayer connects us directly to God’s strength and wisdom during battles.

We fight from victory—not for victory—because Christ already triumphed at Calvary.

Forgiveness is a key step toward healing and victory but requires God’s help through His Holy Spirit.

Consistency in prayer builds spiritual resilience over time.