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“What are you believing God for,” my friend asked while we were vacationing.

I didn’t have an answer.

Not that I wasn’t praying. Since this pandemic hit, I’ve been praying like crazy…

Praying for the pandemic to end.
Praying for friends who are unemployed.
Praying my students would do well despite the learning situation.
Praying police brutality would end.
Praying for the families who unjustly lost a life at the hands of the police.
Praying our nation would reconcile.
Praying for cancer patients to recover, knees to heal, price of medicine to decrease, sick children to be well.
Praying for a diagnosis and healing for my “adopted” daughter.
Praying my sister’s niece, who was shot in a drive by shooting would recover.
Praying for my husband while he was in the hospital.
Praying.

While I have seen God answer prayers miraculously during this time, my friend’s question reminded me, my prayers have been defensive. To win this game called life, I need to play offense. You can keep the status quo with good defense, but winning requires good offense as well.

What does praying offensively mean?

Asking God what He wants to accomplish in your life in the next few months, in the next year, in the next five years and declaring and decreeing that. It is standing on the promises of God for tomorrow.

The enemy has us playing “Whack-a-Mole”, when God has called us to play Golf – keep our eyes only on sinking the ball in the hole.

August is my birth month. My present to myself will be praying offensively for my family and the ministry God has given me. I am going to dream with God and then pray according to my dreams. I am going to decree and declare God’s promises over my life.

Now, I understand, because this is a fallen world, defensive prayers are necessary. So yes, I will continue to contend and believe for my friends and family. But it’s time to get on the offense in 2020.

Who wants to join me?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬