Over the past couple of years, we have come to the realization that death, in particular, is rampaging upon the earth. I don't refer primarily to physical death. I'm talking about a spirit, a giant foul spirit of death that is wreaking havoc on humanity. Yes, physical death, suicide, those types, but also death in relationship, death in a marriage, death in a dream, death in a ministry, literally trying to bring about "the end of things." We have found it to be very, very helpful to invoke the power of the river of life as our shield from death in this hour.

Ezekiel (ch. 47) described the river of life flowing from the throne of God. First, it was ankle deep, then it was knee deep, then it was waist deep, and then it's finally described as the river that cannot be crossed. And then, of course, in Revelation 21, John sees the river flowing through the New Jerusalem, the city of God, the river of the life of God made available to his people. To make that clear, in John 7, Jesus said that those who believe in him will have rivers of life, rivers of living water flowing from their inmost being. We are meant to receive and drink deeply of the river of life and to use it in this hour as our shield against death.

And so, here is how we are praying: 

I command the River of Life as my shield now from death on the earth in this hour. I bring the River of Life over me, around me, and through me and through my union with God. I bring the River of Life beneath me, before me, behind me, on every side—the River that cannot be crossed. I bring the River of Life over my home and household, around us, through us, beneath us, before, behind, on every side—the River that cannot be crossed.

I command the River of Life that cannot be crossed as our shield from death on the earth in this hour, and all of its servants and all of their weapons and devices. I summon the River of Life through my heart and through my union with God, healing, restoring, renewing, and surrounding. For as Ezekiel said, where the River flows, everything will live. I command the River of Life, the River that cannot be crossed, as my shield in this hour, against all death on the earth, and all of its servants, and all of their weapons and devices, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name. Amen.