Always And Everywhere

Always and Everywhere

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18

PAUL HAD JUST WRITTEN a powerful passage to the Ephesians on the spiritual battles we face, drawing imagery from Isaiah and Roman soldiers to call attention to the nature of the fight and our need to prepare. Our spiritual armor and weapons are sufficient, but we have to wear and wield them in a Holy Spirit–saturated context. So just when we think this visual passage is winding down, Paul reaches the climax: The spiritual battle is above all a matter of prayer.

Unfortunately, there is a paragraph break in many Bible translations between the passage on armor and the passage on praying, and most readers who enjoy envisioning spiritual armor tend to tune out at obligatory admonitions to pray. Of course, we’re supposed to pray, they think. We’ve heard that before. But if the purpose of this vivid illustration was to lead up to this instruction, it must be more than obligatory. It’s imperative. This is critical to our lives and the people we pray for.

Perhaps that explains the sweeping nature of Paul’s words. We are to pray at all times on every occasion, persistently praying for all believers everywhere. If we ever thought we could cruise through life, if we ever wished for a carefree existence, we were greatly mistaken. God gives us seasons of rest and refreshing, to be sure, and he never wants us to be stressed out. But he does want us to be alert. The spiritual welfare of the people in our sphere of influence depends on it.

Take these words to heart. Let Paul’s inclusive appeal ring in your ears throughout each day. You have not been called to develop a type A spirituality, but you do have moments of downtime you can fill with prayers and petitions. Your fellowship with other believers should pulsate with prayer whenever you meet. Rest in the Spirit, but be diligent in listening for the appeals he is making through you. As individuals and churches, we are on a relentless mission that is driven and supported by our requests to our Father in heaven.

Prayer meetings are the throbbing machinery of the church.