One of the keys to effective intercession and spiritual warfare is the concept of no common ground. Over the years I have seen so many people getting beat up in the context of warfare because they had areas in their lives that were not surrendered to Christ. How can we defeat the enemy when we have side doors open to him? Likewise, how can we walk in effective and powerful intercession when we haven’t won the battle in our own life?

When Satan came at Jesus, there was nothing in Jesus that allowed the enemy access. When we have unconfessed sin in our life we open ourselves to all sorts of problems, especially if we desire to walk as victorious warriors for Jesus.

A constant prayer in our heart must be, “O God do in me anything you need to do, so that You can do through me everything that You want to do!” This is a cry of surrender to Him, to set us free from all that holds us back. It is praying with David, “Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT).

If we regularly pray this prayer the Lord will show us things hidden in our heart that don’t please Him and are open doors for the enemy. He will bring to mind sins that we may or may not even remember. Some things we may not even consider sin. Other areas He might show us are people we need to forgive. He may reveal disappointments and unfulfilled expectations that we have allowed to erode our faith in God. He could expose faulty opinions that have been spoken to us from well meaning influences in our lives. He could open our eyes to see vows we have made and have broken (and btw He takes our vows seriously). He could even show us curses over our lives that need to be rejected!

All this to say, God wants us to create a home where He feels welcome! This home is in our heart. The more welcomed and uncluttered with rubbish our hearts are, the more He will be able to come and occupy it with His presence. The more He does that, the more victory we will experience in our lives.

God is calling His people to be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). We cannot do that in our own strength. This requires our surrendering to Him and letting the Holy Spirit show us what’s there. As He does this He is preparing a militant and pure bride who will be powerful in the battle and effective in intercession. Let’s be like Jesus, and allow there to be no common ground with the devil in our lives!