And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 NIV
Collateral is used as security or warranty against financial loss. It is an asset, which guarantees that a lender will be compensated in case the borrower is unable to repay their debt. Before an individual or a business can get a loan, a bank usually asks for collateral to minimize any unanticipated loss they might suffer.
Prayer helps us build spiritual equity throughout our spiritual journey. It helps to increase our spiritual net worth. That is why it is often said, more prayer more power, little prayer little power.
When we pray, we acquire spiritual warranty against the attacks of the enemy so that when we are persecuted, we will not feel abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; hard-pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair (2 Corinthians 4:9). Prayer is our security against spiritual defeat. Thus, we can thrive in hardships and persevere through our trials.
Many Christians are not increasing their spiritual net-worth because they do not invest in prayer. The devil does not care about our financial net-worth, our credentials, or social or political connections. He is worried about how much spiritual collateral we have in the heavenly kingdom. He attacks the spiritually weak and strong equally, but he knows when to flee from those who have enough spiritual collateral to resist him.
Our spiritual collateral increases our spiritual confidence and enables us to do kingdom work despite the trials we endure. They guarantee that God will restore anything the enemy has stolen from us. Therefore, we remain encouraged and steadfast in our Christian journey.
One of the best ways to increase our spiritual collateral is to live a Christ-centered life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not only our Savior and mediator He is the CEO of heaven’s financial system. Thus, whatever we ask in His name, it will be done so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. This is the message Jesus shares with His disciples during one of His last messages to His disciples before His death and resurrection.
Without a relationship with God through Christ Jesus, we do not have any spiritual collateral. That does not mean a non-believer should not pray. Nor does it mean that God would not listen to the prayer of a non-believer. What it means is that non-believers have no security against demonic attacks and no warranty against the loss they incur when the enemy seeks to devour them.
Let us continue to invest in our prayer life to increase our spiritual collateral. We fight not flesh and blood, but powers and principalities from high places. Jesus gave us the power and authority to bind these demonic spirits in Mark 16:17. But that power can only be activated by faith through a life of prayer. Having a fervent prayer life will increase our spiritual collateral so we can live as overcomers.
Questions for Personal Reflection
How would you assess your spiritual collateral?
How can you help those in your sphere of influence to increase their spiritual collateral?
Prayer- Almighty God, I thank you for allowing me to increase my heavenly equity through prayer so I can have a warranty against the attacks of the enemy. Please help me to be fervent in prayer so that I may continue to increase my spiritual collateral and have the power to overcome against all attacks of the enemy, in Jesus’ name.