A few weeks ago, I was studying about the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20 (I recommend that you go back and study this further- it’s so good!). One important takeaway that I got from this passage of scripture is that we need the WHOLE armor of God- all of the pieces- if we are going to be able to stand against the tricks and plans of the devil. While many of us can remember the belt of truth (v.14), the breastplate of righteousness (v.14), having our feet ready to proclaim the gospel that brings peace (v.15), the shield of faith (v.16), the helmet of salvation (v.17) and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (v.17), we often stop there, as if our armor is complete.
Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Here is an important reminder:
Prayer is a necessary part of the armor of God. Without it we are not complete or ready for the battle.
I’m not sure why, but for many of us prayer is an afterthought. It’s like we try to handle and fix everything on our own before going to God in prayer with a sudden cry of “HELP!”. One thing I have learned over the years, and am being constantly reminded of, is the importance of going to God in prayer FIRST. This is how we will get the direction we need regarding our next steps. This reminds me of two verses that I call my life verses: Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) says, “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Let’s take a closer look at Ephesians 6:18.
One important takeaway from Ephesians 6:18 is that it says we are to pray in the Spirit- according to God’s will- at all times and on every occasion. While I am certainly NOT perfect, I usually try to do this throughout the day by thanking God and praying about what I see, hear and sense. I also have three alarms set on my phone to remind me to pray as I go about my day. If you are new to prayer this may feel forced at first, but don’t stop. You will find that the more you pray, the easier it becomes. My belief is that if we truly prayed at all times, we would not have to try to get God’s attention when we experience the difficulties of this life. We would be having an on-going conversation with our loving Heavenly Father. Not just asking Him for help, but thanking and worshipping Him throughout our days.
Another important takeaway from Ephesians 6:18 is that it says to stay alert in our prayers. To be alert is to be awake; to watch (1). This tells us that prayer, which is to be done constantly, is not to be offered in a state of slumber. We must be watchful, praying according to the heart and mind of God. We can find out what is on God’s heart and mind by reading the word of God.
The final takeaway that I want to focus on from Ephesians 6:18 is that it says that we are to be persistent in our prayers. To be persistent is to be steadfast or unwavering (2). When we know that we are praying according to the will of God, we are to continue in prayer no matter what our environment or the situation may look like. Be committed, have patience and endure. There may be what feels like resistance or delay but don’t give up! This not only applies to when we are waiting for God to move on our own behalf, but also when we are praying for others too. We can’t just pray for one day or one week and then stop if we don’t see immediate results. Press! One way to do this is to keep a list of things that you want to pray for yourself and others in a visible place where you will see them daily. I’m sure that we all have told someone at some point that we would pray for them, only to walk away and completely forget about it. I know I have, and I felt bad about it once I remembered. This method of writing down things and people to pray for has definitely helped me with remaining consistent in my prayer life.
I really like the quote by Dr. Charles Stanley that says, “Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time.”(3) May we never underestimate the power of prayer to live victorious Christian lives. Below I have listed a couple of tips for practical application, as well as a few Bible verses for you to continue your study about prayer further.
Practical Application:
-Set an alarm(s) on your phone to remind you to pray throughout the day. This can be a time that you actually stop and go pray, or you can just pray as you continue to work throughout the day. Be led by the Holy Spirit on what works best for you and your lifestyle.
-Write a list of prayer requests for yourself and others. Put it in a place where you will see it every day. Examples of places could be in your phone, on your desk, or in your car. This will likely be different for everyone.
Additional Scriptures:
*Colossians 4:2
*1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
*Ephesians 6:10-20
I am excited for you, and your newfound or reestablished excitement about prayer! Feel free to send me a message on the Contact Page sharing your experiences with prayer, and whether these tips were helpful for you. I would love to hear from you!
Many blessings to you and your family. With love from your sister in Christ,
(3) Life Principles to Live By: Charles F. Stanley