“The social and political climate of the world today calls for a massive mobilization of intercessors with a strategic battle plan for focused prayer. It seems that God is speaking to the church in an urgent manner in this very regard.” Dick Eastman
The battle in the nations is raging between the powers of light and the powers of darkness. In reaching our cities and nations through prayer and intercession, we are dethroning Satan and enthroning God. We are enforcing the victory of God by transferring the seat of power and authority from the enemy and enthroning God through strategic prayer. Is it any wonder that we as intercessors run in to such heavy spiritual battles? We are laying siege to the enemy through prayer! We are actually enthroning the King of Kings through our intercession.
“The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?” (Psalm 113:4-6)
One strategic way to enthrone God in a city is through praying over a map of that area. I have often used maps to pray over nations, and I encourage you to do the same. Maps can helps us to stay focused and faithful in prayer. In Spain, we had a big map of southern Spain (Andalucia) on the wall. I would often go to that map, lay my hands on it, and pray for that area of the world. I found that it would help me to pray with more fervency and with a focused vision for Spain.
The missionary ship that I lived on for several years – that brought the gospel to nations all around the world – was started through prayer. The founder of Operation Mobilization, George Verwer, and others were praying numerous times over a map of the world. A God-idea came to him one day while praying over the map. Water touches many cities in the world. Why not pray for a ship to bring the gospel to these cities? They began to pray fervently for God to provide a ship to reach the nations of the world that were surrounded by water. God provided not one, but two ocean-going ships to bring the Good News of Jesus throughout the nations. These men and women were enthroning God through praying over a map. Little did they realize the strategic plan that God was giving them at that time to literally touch millions with the Gospel. Many, including myself, have been deeply impacted by this ministry.
Praying over a map can bring insight and strategy into our prayers as we see with our eyes the cities and nations we are praying for.
Praying over a map was used in the Bible. God commissioned Ezekiel to lay siege to Jerusalem by using a prayer map. Ezekiel actually drew the city of Jerusalem on a piece of clay and laid it in front of himself to prayer. Ezekiel 4:1-2 says, “Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it.” It is not a new thing. It is Biblical.
“Siege means ‘the act or process of surrounding and attacking a fortified place in such a way as to isolate it for the purpose of lessening the resistance of the defender and thereby making capture possible.’ Another definition reads, ‘any prolonged or persistent effort to overcome resistance.’ A third, more ancient definition is ‘seat of rule.’ So to lay siege in prayer would suggest a strategy that involves interceding for our neighbors or the nations to lessen their resistance to the gospel.” Dick Eastman
When God told Ezekiel to lay siege to Jerusalem, it was a powerful command. It is a strategic way to intercede for the city. It is a way to lessen the resistance of enemy forces. It is a way to enthrone God in the city. Because darkness and evil inhabit our cities, we must visually lay siege to them in prayer. Getting a map of your city or nation can help you to lay siege to it in prayer. You are breaking down the resistance to the gospel as you surround the city with your prayers. Praying over a map can help you to break down the powers of darkness that are holding people in captivity.
Praying Over Your Map
“Fighting from her knees in many parts of the world, Christ’s bride is already beginning to push back the forces of darkness for periods of time, during which millions are having the opportunity to hear the gospel for the first time and to be saved. We are literally living in the day of Psalm 2:8 – we are asking the Father for the nations and they are coming to Him!” Eddie and Alice Smith
In praying for your neighborhood, you may want to draw a map of the houses and families you are praying for. Define your mission field. Are you praying for a street, block, apartment complex, group of households or a rural section? Map households in your community by making a homemade map or a simple list of persons in your neighborhood. Then begin to pray for guidance as you pray over your map. You may want to prayerwalk your neighborhood. You may also want to get a map of your city and begin praying over your city map. All of this will help you to visually lay siege to your neighborhood or city, breaking dramatically the resistance of the enemy in your area. God will begin to work as you visually pray in this manner. He will give you strategic insight as to how to pray.
We encourage you to get a free world prayer map and begin praying for the nations. To receive a free world prayer map, see http://www.ehc.org/index.php?contentID=11. This is a helpful tool for intercessors that would like to pray daily over a map of the world. Every Home for Christ is a ministry that has distributed gospel literature house-to-house to over 2.2 billion people in 191 nations with over 278 million decisions for Christ! Isn’t that incredible?
“The beauty of praying over a map of the world (as well as a hand-drawn map of our neighborhoods) is that it helps us contend for the lost in a far more specific manner. We’re targeting actual nations and very real neighbors. This is far more meaningful than shallow prayers like ‘God bless all the people of the world, everywhere!’” Dick Eastman
Training Links
- Training Introduction
- Breakthrough Faith At The Gates
- The Dark Night Of The Soul
- Dependence – God’s Unlimited Opportunity To Bless
- Destroying Personal Strongholds
- Fasting The Right Way With The Right Heart
- Forgiveness Is A Choice
- The Hiddenness of God
- History Belongs To The Intercessors
- A Humble Heart
- Jesus’ Passionate Prayer Life
- A Lifestyle of Worship
- Prayer Discovers God’s Agenda
- Prayer For The Lost
- Prayer Is The Strategy of Heaven
- Presenting Your Petitions In The Courtroom Of Heaven
- The Providential Care of God
- A Royal Priesthood – Authority In Intercession
- Victory In Spiritual Warfare
- The Worship Warrior
- Hearing God’s Voice
- Enthroning God Through Prayer Mapping
- Making Prayer Visible
- Pursuing God’s Presence
- A Steadfast Spirit in Warfare
- The Providential Care of God
- A Royal Priesthood