Prepare for Spiritual Battle with Prayer
Share
Prayer is vital to the Christian solider. It is the method of putting on each piece of armor. When we wield the armor of God by asking the Lord to give us His strength to wear it, we are being obedient to the command to put on the full armor of God. We are embracing the power of the Spirit in us.
As we study the importance of prayer for ourselves and others, may we have open hearts to conviction to pray more each day.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Our focus verse this week is Ephesians 6:18, which says, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”
Is Prayer a Piece of Armor?
There are many various views on whether prayer is considered a “piece” of the armor of God found in Ephesians 6. To be completely honest, I can understand the viewpoints on either side of this non-core theological issue. People who view prayer as the 7th piece of armor would believe that this is the second offensive weapon against the enemy. People who would not view this as a piece of armor would still believe that it holds great significance in the spiritual battle. Either way, in the midst of warfare, our prayers matter and we are called to pray.
Praying in the Spirit is connected with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. When we pray the Word of God over ourselves or over others, it unleashes the powers of heaven on this earth. The Lord hears us and works in mighty ways, not because we are great, but because His Spirit lives in us and helps us to pray according to His will. Scripture even tells us that the Holy Spirit will pray on our behalf when we are weak.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26).
We need to be reminded daily that God hears the cries of His children and stands with us in the battle. We are not alone; we can call on the One who works in our struggles. We are battling against spiritual enemies, but our Savior Jesus is the one who already defeated them. We, as His co-heirs, stand in His victory even though we are still in the midst of war in a sin-filled world.
Barnes’ notes on the Bible shares a memorable poem,
“Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian armor bright,
And Satan trembles when he sees.
The meanest saint upon his knees.”
One of the greatest temptations from the enemy is telling us that prayer is insignificant and does not make a difference. Prayer is in fact one of the greatest gifts and weapons in the spiritual battle. Prayer connects us to our Leader (God) and helps us to have discernment, wisdom, and strength in the battle.
What are some lies that you believe about prayer? It can be tempting to avoid talking with God and going before Him with requests because of laziness, indifference, past no’s from Him, incorrect priorities in life, or doubt. Whatever holds you back, tell God. He already knows. Confess to Him and ask for His power by His Spirit within you to give you a desire to pray like never before. I guarantee that He will answer that whole-hearted pray with a yes, because it is according to His will. However, we better be ready for the million excuses the enemy will want to send our way to neglect and avoid prayer.
Jesus Models Prayer
Jesus constantly modeled and valued prayer. We read about Jesus getting away to be alone with the Father and pray, we see Him take time to pray with His closest friends, He taught us how to pray with the model of the Lord’s Prayer, and we read about Him in His most difficult moments in the garden and on the cross crying out to His Father. Jesus knew the importance and the value of prayer in the spiritual battle. He did not neglect to utilize this gift.
Bob Hostetler from Guideposts shares seven types of moments when Jesus prayed:
- On Special Occasions (Luke 3:21)
- During Demanding Seasons (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4)
- Before a Big Decision (Luke 6:12)
- When Missing Someone (Luke 5:16)
- In Concert with Others (Luke 9:28)
- When in Need (Luke 22:40-44)
- When in Pain (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus prayed at all times for many different reasons. He prayed alone and He prayed with others. He prayed for Himself, He prayed for His enemies. He prayed when He was thanking and praising God after a miracle and He prayed when He had no more strength. Jesus reminds us that it is vital to stay connected with the Lord and it helps align us with His will. Prayer is God’s invitation for us to know Him more and experience His great love for us in a unique way. We just have to say yes.
Am I a Spiritual Warrior with Prayer?
How have you seen prayer make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others?
What are lies that you are believing about prayer right now in this season of life? What is your plan to seek prayer in the spiritual battle?
How is the church praying? In what ways can we pray for our communities, implement prayer more, and encourage the body of Christ to intercede for one another?
My prayer for us as we wrap up our study of the armor of God is that we would Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Amen.
Pray the armor of God over yourself, over your family, over your friends, over your pastors, over anyone you know who loves Jesus! We all could use some spiritual protection and empowerment in this battle.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/benjaminec
