Prayer is such an important part of our faith life. Yet we have an accuser who wants to bring charges against us day and night. On a recent episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective podcast [How to Pray for an Incarcerated Son – Episode 124], Shonda Whitworth shared with us what she learned about praying into the courtroom of heaven when her son was incarcerated. Because our prayer life is crucial to our spiritual growth and wellbeing, I’ve asked Shonda to share more here about the power of praying into the courtroom of heaven.

Be sure to read to the end for a book giveaway!

The Power of Praying in the Courtroom of Heaven
By Shonda Whitworth

Praying the Word of God is the most powerful prayer strategy we have because God’s Word does not return void but goes forth to accomplish what He sent it to do.

But what do we do when it seems like our Scripture confessions of faith to the Lord are the same thing over and over again without resolution? Or we feel like we are under the enemy’s attack?

Perhaps it’s time to implement a new prayer strategy.

Of course, we can talk to God anytime anywhere, just like we talk to a friend.

And we can petition God as a Father to meet our needs, as Jesus modeled for us in the Lord’s prayer.

But there are times we may need to make an appeal into the courtroom of heaven because our accuser is busy making accusations against us in the throne room of God.

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down’” (Revelation 12:10 NKJV).

So, if Satan accuses us before God day and night, how do we silence him?

First, we need to understand how the courtroom of heaven works. Our judicial system in America is modeled very much after the courtroom of heaven. The Bible is full of judicial and courtroom themes.

Key Roles in the Courtroom of Heaven

Here is a list of the key roles:

• The defendant –that’s us
• God is the Judge of all (Hebrews 12:23; James 4:12).
• Jesus is the Advocate (1 John 2:1).
• Satan is the prosecutor, the accuser (Revelation 12:10; Luke 22:31-32)

As with the earthly courts, we need an advocate (or defense attorney) to adequately represent us.

There’s only one qualified Advocate in the Courtroom of Heaven – JESUS.

We must ask Jesus to be our Advocate. Many Christians understand that in the terms of asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.

3 Ways to Silence the Accuser in the Courtroom of Heaven

Now there are three basic ways to silence the accuser in the courtroom of heaven so our prayers will be unhindered.

1. Plead guilty to known sins.

Matthew 5:25 says, “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.”

The accuser takes our sins into the courtroom of heaven in order to hinder our prayers. We must confess our sins and when we do the Lord is faithful to forgive us of our sins (1 John 1:9).

Confessing our sins is to free us from guilt, not to condemn us. The Passion Translation of Romans 8:1 says, “So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.”

2. Forgive others

Another way the enemy hinders us in the courtroom of heaven is causing us to take an offense and hold unforgiveness against others.

Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

So if we want to be forgiven, then we must forgive others. This one is a hang up for many who have been traumatized. But such a necessary part of the healing process.

When we’ve been hurt or wounded by someone or something in our lives, we can ask the Lord to heal those wounds.

Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

3. Repent for the sins of our forefathers.

Once we have repented for our own sins and forgiven others, then we may need to repent for the sins of our forefathers.

There several scriptural examples of repentance for the sins of the our ancestors. Some signs that there are sins of the forefathers operating in our lives are when you see repeated patterns of behavior in the family ancestry, such as divorce, inherited illnesses, addictions, financial issues, accidents, and anger.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if the accuser is using sins of the forefather against you and repent for those.

Now that we’ve repented of our own sins, forgiven those who have offended us, and repented on behalf of our ancestors, we have silenced the accuser and can effectively make our appeals to the courtroom of heaven.

We have hope in knowing that God teaches us how to silence the accuser so our appeals to the courtroom of heaven will be answered!

With the courtroom of heaven prayer strategy, we can pray with confidence that our Scripture based prayers will come to pass according to God’s will for our lives.

How can your prayer life be enriched by praying into the courtroom of heaven?

 

 

About Shonda Whitworth:

Shonda Whitworth writes, teaches, and speaks at conferences and retreats to share the hope of healing and restoration we have in Jesus. After her son landed in state prison, she realized the hardships families of prisoners encounter. She and her husband, Eldon, founded Fortress of Hope Ministries, a nonprofit organization that offers hope to families affected by incarceration. Shonda transparently shares her testimony of living with a son in prison at ShondaWhitworth.com and FortressofHopeMinistries.com.

Connect with Shonda: Website / Facebook Shonda / Twitter / LinkedIn Shonda / Facebook Fortress / LinkedIn Fortress / Twitter Fortress

 

Book Giveaway!

In conjunction with this post and the podcast interview, How to Pray for an Incarcerated Son – Episode 124, Shonda Whitworth is giving away a free copy of her book, Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven: Petitions for Prisoners and Prison Families.

Leave a comment below sharing with us one thing you’ve learned about praying in the courtroom of heaven and you will be entered into the contest for your chance to win a copy of her book.

You could also share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, September 6, 2021. Continental United States only.