Day 9: Peace That Stands Its Ground
Bible passage: Romans 16:17–20
Paul’s Final Warning
Today is Sunday 9th of January 2022. Welcome to Day 9 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Today we read the closing lines of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
After pages of greetings, Paul stops to give one last warning. Watch out, he says, for people who cause divisions and upset the faith of others. Their smooth words deceive the innocent. Be wise about what is good and stay innocent of what is evil (Romans 16:17–19).
The God of Peace Is a Warrior
An Unexpected Promise
Then comes one of the most striking promises in the New Testament: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16:20 (NLT)
We might have expected Paul to say “the God of power” or “the God of war”. Instead it is the God of peace who does the crushing. It takes us right back to the garden, where God promised that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).
Peace Is Not Passive
This tells us something important about shalom. God’s peace is not softness. It is not keeping quiet to avoid trouble. Shalom means everything put right, and some things can only be put right when evil is confronted and defeated. Psalm 85:10 pictures righteousness and peace meeting together. You cannot have one without the other.
Under Your Feet
Our Part
Notice whose feet are mentioned. God does the crushing, but He does it under ours. We are not spectators. James tells us to submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7).
Some of us have put up with things for too long: a pattern of temptation, a lie we keep believing, a division in the family, an attack on our peace. We have prayed politely when God was inviting us to pray with authority.
Praying with Boldness
Identify it. Where is the enemy stirring up trouble in your life, your home or our church?
Pray with authority. In the name of Jesus, tell it plainly that it has no right to stay. Stand on the promise of Romans 16:20.
Guard unity. Refuse to pass on gossip or to take sides against a brother or sister. Division is one of the enemy’s oldest weapons.
Jesus told His disciples that in this world they would have trouble, but that they could take heart because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). We fight from His victory, not for it.
Prayer for Today:
God of peace, thank You that You are stronger than every power of darkness. Forgive me for tolerating what You have called me to overcome. In the name of Jesus I stand against every scheme of the enemy over my life, my family and our church. Crush Satan under our feet, and let Your righteousness and peace fill this place. Amen.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
Let us pray with you: send a prayer request.
Join one of our prayer meetings.
