As he finishes handing out God’s armor, Paul gives us one last instruction when using it. We need to pray. Every chance we get. Without prayer, this supernatural weapons system is just a pile of scrap metal. With prayer, we can take on the enemy’s most viscous attack. As we put on the truth belt, pray. As we strap on the righteous flak jacket, pray. As we lace up the Gospel cleats, pray. As we grab the faith shield, pray. As we buckle the chin strap on the salvation helmet, pray. As we swing the Spirit sword, pray. “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all saints” (v18). Pray. In the power of God’s Spirit. Pray. Keep our heads on a swivel. Pray.
The great Bible teacher Howard Hendricks says that anytime one of the authors of Scripture repeats a word, we really need to pay attention. If that’s the case, there’s a really big point that Paul doesn’t want us to miss here. He uses the word “all” four times here. And he drops the idea of prayer four times as well. Praying. Prayer. Supplication. Supplication (a second time!). All. Prayer. So it’s pretty stinkin’ clear that the apostle is talking all about prayer. Hey, I may have been born at night but it wasn’t LAST night!
It’s all about prayer. So pray all about it.
Paul’s first command here is when to pray. “Praying at all times” (v18). Prayer is quite simply talking to God. It’s letting Him know what’s on your heart. You might as well be honest with Him since He already knows what’s going on. Tell Him your hopes. Tell Him your fears. Tell Him your dreams. Should you expect Him to respond? Absolutely! Scripture is clear that God will answer you in one of three ways. Yes. No. Not yet. Will He answer audibly? Well, that’s a little tricky. I think He can. There are a handful of folks I respect who say they’ve heard Him. Can’t say for certain that it’s ever happened to me. God may give you an incredible sense of peace about a decision. He may also shove you in a direction you never expected. But the most common and most reliable way He responds is through Scripture. Think of it this way. We talk to God with our mouths. He talks to us through His Word. And just in case you think He’s communicated something to you, ALWAYS double check against His written truth. Do not pass “Go.” Do not collect $200. Check what you’ve head against His Word. God never contradicts Himself. If you believe He’s telling you one thing and Scripture says something else, you may be hearing from last night’s pizza rather than the Creator of the universe.
So, we’re to be “praying at all times” (v18). My first response in reading this is to look at this verse like my dog looks at television. What?!? All the time?!? Come on. Get real. But let’s take a closer look at what Paul’s telling us. He uses the word “times,” which is the Greek noun kairos. It does NOT mean all of time. It describes a moment or an opportunity or a particular season, like football or baseball season (baseball kairos is probably my favorite kairos!). Rather than seeing this as some non-stop prayer-a-thon, think of it as praying every chance you get. Pray at every opportunity. This idea of jumping on every chance we have to talk to God is a running theme throughout the Bible. Paul tells the Colossians to “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col 4:2). He was straightforward to the Thessalonians: “Pray without ceasing” (1Th 5:17). The apostle urges his Philippian friends to pray about absolutely everything (Phil 4:6-7). And a heart that’s always ready to pray is the key to hope. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Rom 12:12).
It’s all about prayer. So pray all about it.
So what’s Jesus’ attitude about prayer? Let’s check it out. First of all, He’s all for it. When His posse asked Him to teach them how to do it, He was more than happy to give them a model to follow (Lk 11:1-13). Christ taught them to “pray and not lose heart” (Mt 18:1). He told His boys to ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking (Mt 7:7-8). But the biggest endorsement Jesus can give about prayer is that He did it regularly. A quick read of the Gospels will let you know that He’s always sneaking off to talk to Dad. When the disciples can’t find Him, that’s usually where He is. So if God incarnate finds it necessary to pray, we probably should too.
It’s all about prayer. So pray all about it.
Paul wants us to know that there’s a certain Someone who plays a critical role in our prayer life. That would be the Holy Spirit. We’re to pray at every opportunity “in the Spirit” (v18). Let’s make sure we’re clear what this is NOT. Praying in the power of God’s Spirit isn’t some goofy seance where we use a Ouija board. Remember, His Spirit has come and made Himself at home in each one of Jesus’ followers. And one of His jobs is to be there to help us when we pray. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words...the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:26, 27). Ever struggle with how to pray? Is the situation too difficult to talk to the Father about? That’s EXACTLY what the Spirit does for us. He’s got your back. He’s there for prayer. He makes sure that your heavenly Dad hears your heart. The Spirit is all about prayer.
We’re told to “keep alert” (v18). This is the Greek word agrupneo. It literally means don’t sleep. Keep your eyes open. Pay attention. Look around. My old high school football coach would tell us to keep our head on a swivel. Know what’s going on around you. Don’t get caught off guard. Don’t get blindsided. This was EXACTLY Jesus’ point when He was with Pete, Jimmy and John in Gethsemane. “Watch and pray that you may not enter temptation” (Mt 26:41; Mk 14:38). Keep your eyes open. Pay attention. Look around. That’s the only way to really know how to pray, when to pray and who to pray for. There’s actually a hilarious example of failing to keep alert during prayer over in Acts 12:6-18. A group of Pete’s friends have gotten together to pound on the doors of heaven and pray for his release from the pokey. After angel busts him out of the joint, he makes a beeline to the prayer meeting. When the servant girl named Rhoda tells them that Pete’s at the door, they tell her she’s crazy. Can’t be possible. He’s in jail! That’s why we’re praying! Eventually they let him in and celebrate. That’s a fantastic example of NOT being alert during prayer.
This is a fantastic verse. But it’s incredibly convicting for me. That’s because my prayer life is awful. Do I pray. Sure. But it’s not with the depth or passion that Paul’s calling for here. Do I pray at every opportunity? Fail. Do I pray in the Spirit. I sure hope so. He’s the only chance I have at a successful prayer life, whatever THAT looks like. Do I keep alert? Sadly, no. Occasionally, I’ll wake up and talk to Jesus about something. But too often, I’m absolutely oblivious. Do I pray for all of the other believers around the world? Epic fail. When I do pray, too often it’s about me and my needs (or should I say my “wants!”). I’m so VERY thankful that my standing with God isn’t based on my need to have a perfect prayer life. Jesus did that for me. The Spirit does that for me. Where would I be without them?
It’s all about prayer. So pray all about it.
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