Watch Focus: St. Patrick’s Breastplate: We Have Everything We Need for the Battle

“I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me from snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near. So that there may come to me an abundance of reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

Saint Patrick’s Breastplate was written in 433 A.D. as St. Patrick asked the Lord for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Laoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity and confronting ancient demonic powers of witchcraft, religion, and idolatry. As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and move closer to celebrating Passover and Easter, our eyes are on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, and as watchmen we pray for a great turnaround and declare victory for the church through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The extreme proliferation of demonic ideas in our nation in recent months can only be effectively addressed in the spiritual realm with power only held by the church. Declare that we have everything we need for the battle, and put on the full armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Plead the blood of the Lamb over ourselves, our children, and our nation. Bind evil spirits of witchcraft and manipulation from all who set themselves against the truth of Christ and against the Spirit-filled church. Break the power of every spirit trying to replace and destroy God-given authority in churches and nations. Pray, “Come Holy Spirit of God and give us victory over every evil power. Release deliverance, protection, and the spirit of Elijah in our midst.”

Colossians 2:15, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
 
Isaiah 64:1-2, "Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence…to make Your name known to Your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at Your presence!"
 
Matthew 17:1-20, “Jesus led them up on a high mountain and He was transfigured before them. A bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ Now as they came down from the mountain, a man came to Him saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Jesus said, ‘Bring him to Me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and the child was cured from that very hour. So Jesus said to them, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’”
 
Acts 10:38, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and  freedom to prisoners.”

Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”