I’ve seen a few posts about how the pandemic and covid has brought change over the last year. Much like everyone, it has brought change into our lives here as well. There has been an introduction to:
- face masks
- social distancing
- more online shopping
- less in person socializing
- less eating out and more take out
- online church
- zoom meetings
- and vaccines.
It has also brought about a year of constant prayer. We prayed about everything from protection to provision. From overcoming fear and worry in order to gain peace over our days. From gratitude for what we had, to requests for daily necessities that were hard to find.
Over the course of these challenging days, we’ve been reminded about the armor of God. Paul, in Ephesians 6, lists out each piece of this armor, instructing us on the importance of each article of clothing. Yet it was this verse which stopped me in my tracks one day last week:
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18, NASB)
The heading in my Bible titles this verse, “The warrior’s resource” (The Scofield Study Bible).
A resource is a “supply, support, or aid, especially one that can be readily drawn upon when needed” (dictionary.com). This tells me it is not enough to solely dress ourselves in the armor, we must draw on the support we also receive from prayer.
Eugene Peterson, in The Message, words it this way:
“In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.“
You can put on all the armor but prayer is essential and we cannot afford to go without. If we are going to win in this ongoing warfare called life, we are going to need to be a praying people.
“We think of prayer as a preparation for work, or a calm after having done work, whereas prayer is the essential work.” (Oswald Chambers)
Paul tells us three things about the important role prayer plays in our lives:
- “At all times.” We need to pray at opportune times, when the situation calls for it. That can be a time of decision, or when an important event is going to happen. And there are truly more of those in our daily lives than we often realize.
- “Be on the alert with all perseverance.” We need to be alert, taking note of what is going on around us. We cannot give up or tire of praying.
- “For all the saints.” We cannot be focused solely on those in our lives, but must also remember our brothers and sisters, our family in Christ, all around the world. Some are facing untold dangers and persecution beyond our imaginations.
Each day, we put on our armor and we pray.
We do both so that
we “keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
Mother’s Day is coming. There is no greater challenge than motherhood, and no greater joy. Dr.Michelle Bengston always brings an encouraging word. In this post, she shares 20 Lessons to Encourage the Hearts of Younger Mothers.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Chambers’ quote is thought-provoking. We do need to pray not just in preparation before something, or in thanksgiving afterward, but all during whatever we are doing.
He often makes me think. What a difference we would see if we but bathed each part of our day in prayer.
“Pray hard and long!”
This really is the answer to so many of our spiritual maladies.
It’s so true, Michele. We’d be way healthier spiritually if we prayed just a little bit more.
I love this reminder of the amazing resource prayer is. In our islands, our national motto is Vigilate – Be Watchful, and I think of this as it relates to prayer as well. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to pray and keep looking for and celebrating God’s answers. In this way, we can fall naturally into a lifestyle of praying without ceasing. Blessings to you, Joanne!
Carlie, I love this and am so glad you shared. Your national motto surely can be applied to prayer and is a gem!
Joanne, these thoughts on prayer are so encouraging. Prayer is an under utilized tool and privilege the Lord gives to us, thank you for these good reminders!
Donna, such a good point – prayer is under utilized. May we not see it as our last resort but our immediate go to.
Joanne, I love this: “Each day, we put on our armor and we pray.
We do both so that
we “keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
I’ve always felt called to be an encourager – to keep each other’s spirits up. I’ve relied on words, but I see prayer is my special weapon.
Jerralea, you are an encourager. And it is so important for us each to do our part to keep each other’s spirits up as these days can be so discouraging. May we be faithful so that no one falls behind or drops out.
My prayer life has definitely ramped up in the last several months!
Joanne, having teenaged young men in the house has driven me to my knees. I’ve needed God’s heart adjustments for myself and prayed the same for our sons. Prayer is definitely the tool that undergirds every other aspect of warfare.
This is the second post I’ve read in the last few days that talked about prayer and being a prayer warrior–one of my favorite jobs as a mom! I remember when my daughter was in Awana, we made up our own tune to help her memorize Ephesians 6:18–it was going through my mind as I read your post, and I have a feeling if I asked her about it, she could sing it too. Thanks for this reminder to put on our armor AND pray!
“The warriors resource”-I love that!