Ongoing Prayer
Ongoing Prayer
Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. (Eph. 6:18)
Constant
Ephesians 6 says a lot about spiritual warfare. It tells us our primary enemy is the devil and other evil, spiritual forces. It tells us to put on the spiritual armor of the gospel so we’re protected and prepared to fight. It also tells us to “pray at all times in the Spirit.”
Since the devil never takes a break, we can’t afford to take one either. This means constant, alert prayer, recognizing we’re in the middle of an extended, ongoing war and always in danger of taking fire. Prayer-meeting prayers are fine and good, but if that’s all the praying we’re doing, we’re not ready for what’s coming. Unless your prayer group can follow you around 24-7, you need to stay active in prayer as a matter of personal course.
Guidance
We have a desperate need to know what to do. We need to hear God’s voice, and He speaks to us through the Scriptures with just the right message at just the right time. But we’ve got to ask. Prayer is our request to hear. It’s turning to God—asking and listening. It’s imploring the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom. In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.” If we don’t hear from God, we will wander around aimlessly, and we’ll be far more vulnerable to attack. Keep praying!
Bottom Line
Prayer is the way we stay close to God, our Commander in the battle. If we don’t hear His orders, we will lose the battle.