Pray! Pray! Pray!

So much has been happening, I am late on my post again. My many apologies. Barb is doing real good, but she still gets exhausted easily. Her numbers, when they test her new liver, are excellent. The doctors are very pleased. Pray for her strength and stamina to improve.  As for her health? She was very sick and fading fast. She likely would not have made it more than a few more months. We were told her liver was in complete shutdown mode. That's why she received a liver when she did. And praise God, she is no loner sick; tired, but not sick. If all goes according to plan, we will be home on December 2. So in keeping with today's theme: Pray! Pray! Pray!

How often do you pray? When do you pray? For what do you pray? All good questions. Our problem is that we do not pray as we should. We pray only when we run into trouble, when times are hard and things are going against us. Then, with our backs to the wall, we remember the Word, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you” (Psalm 50:15). But we would be spared many troubles if we were “praying always,” in all things and at all times. We would be spared many troubles if we would pray faithfully when everything was going well, just as we do when things are against us. Pray “always with all prayer” (Eph. 6:18).

We have been instructed to “put on” (Eph. 6:11) and “take up” (v. 13) “the whole armor of God.” We have been told to “put on the breastplate of righteousness” (v. 14) and “shod (our) feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (v. 15). In other words, live a life of righteousness according to the gospel. Having also “girded (our) waist with truth” (v. 14) and “taking the shield of faith” (v. 16a) we are “able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (v. 16b). With “the helmet of salvation” (v. 17a) we can go into battle with boldness because we have the assurance of our own salvation through the finished work of Christ. Then with confidence, we take in our hand “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17b) and know that victory is ours because the battle belongs to the Lord.

Get to know the Word. Quote it often. It is an armory of truth upon which to stand against the enemy. But always keep in touch with the Lord. Always keep the line of communication with God open. Prayer is the power behind God’s armor. When you practice prayer faithfully, you begin to experience that power. And that power comes from God through the indwelling Spirit. God provides the armor for the Christian and He also provides the power to make it work.

But just because you have all these resources at your disposal, do not assume that you can now live the Christian life without any further help from God. God's armor is not mechanical. It cannot be made to work on your own power. Nor is it magical. You cannot just put it on and watch it work. Our gifts from God are great but they are empty without the Giver. The power of our armor is in the power of God.

Prayer is not listed as armor but is still an important part of the Christian’s arsenal. Verse 18 suggests that the believer be in constant prayer, “praying always.” He is to pray in preparing for battle, as well as when engaging the enemy. “Praying always” means to be God conscious at all times. It means to live in a deep awareness of God. It means to make prayer a habit. It means to always maintain an attitude of complete surrender to the Lord.

When tempted, ask the Lord for help. When something good happens, thank Him. When you see evil around you, pray God makes it right and be willing to be used by Him. Should you meet someone who needs the Lord, ask God to draw them to Himself and be a faithful witness. When you encounter trouble, turn to God for help. Pray at all times, wherever you are, at every opportunity. Constantly set your mind “on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication” (Eph. 6:18) means to take everything to the throne of God. “Prayer” refers to approaching God in general, while “supplication” refers to a special form of prayer, namely specific “requests” (NIV) or “petitions” (NASB). The use of both words together is a clear indicator that we are not only to pray in general terms, but also to bring specific requests before the Lord.

Prayer is powerful and accomplishes much because God is in it. Praying “in the Spirit” means to line up our mind and our desires with His. Then we find ourselves praying in the will of the Father and the Son, and we find our prayers empowered by the Spirit to accomplish God’s will. Be constant. Persevere in your prayers “for all the saints,” and your prayers will be effective and will accomplish much. Amen.