Ephesians 6.13-24 (5)
Pray Psalm 46.1-3.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Selah
Sing Psalm 46.1-3.
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
God is our refuge and our strength; He is our help in times of need.
Thus though the earth beneath us should change, the sea engulf the mountain range.
Waters may roar with raging speed; yet God will rescue us at length.
Read Ephesians 6.13-24; meditate on verses 18, 19.
How should we pray?
Preparation
1. When does Paul want us to pray?
2. What prayers did he seek for himself?
Meditation
Paul understood that none of the weapons of our warfare will avail us for victory unless we are constantly in prayer. We must pray always. With all prayer. And we must pray “in the Spirit”, mentioning not only our own needs but those of “all the saints”.
Jesus taught that we must always pray, and not grow weary (Lk. 18.1). Paul also instructed us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5.17) and attached to this the note that “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Prayer is more important than we think. We already know how difficult prayer can be, which explains why there is so little of it in our lives. But prayer doesn’t always have to be spoken to be prayer. Fixing our minds on Jesus, breathing in the filling of the Holy Spirit, making mention of prayer needs as they pop into our mind throughout the day—these are all ways to improve and lengthen our prayer lives.
We also need to pray for church leaders, that they, like Paul, will boldly speak the Word of truth, not holding back, not pandering to people’s felt needs or expectations, but proclaiming the Good News of Christ and His Kingdom from every passage of God’s Word.
Stay at prayer. Persevere to improve your prayer life. Carry a prayer list if you must. Start and end your day in prayer. Let the world and situations around you prompt you to pray. Remember those who are being persecuted for the faith and intercede for them. We can fill our days with prayer, and our prayers, together with the prayers of other believers, can accomplish great things and mysteries which we have never known before (Jer. 33.3).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
John wrote:
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints…He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand” (Rev. 5.8; 8.3, 4).
Think of it! There are angels and elders carrying our prayers before the Father in golden bowls, and with the lovely smell of incense. We are not only bringing our praises and petitions and supplications and confessions to God, but He is allowing us to add something of an aesthetically beautiful nature into heaven right now. Even as we are doing His will here on earth, as it is done in heaven (Matt. 6.10), we are also launching a bit of His earthly creation back to heaven. He allows us to participate, even now, in the heavenly realm.
Paul’s thesis on prayer immediately brings our battle gear into use.
“…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication
for all the saints—and for me—having put on the breastplate of righteousness;
that utterance may be given to me—for which I carry the shield of faith:
that I may open my mouth boldly—for which I have put on the helmet of salvation;
to make known—for which I carry the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God;
the mystery of the gospel—for which I have put on my shoes…” (Eph. 6.14-19).
The whole armor of God, supplemented with prayer, is the only way to travel—and stay home.
For without this protection, and a continual conversation going with God, there is no need to get out of bed.
It really is not safe. We will only make a mess of things and perhaps even get injured along the way.
“To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed;
let not my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day…
Keep my soul, and deliver me;
let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You” (Ps. 25.1-4; 20, 21).
And it is for You and Your Kingdom that I ready myself for the battle, and pray. Always.
Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King;
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
(Sabine Baring-Gould, 1864)
Reflection
1. Why do you think prayer is so difficult for some believers?
2. What would you say to a fellow believer to encourage them in a more fervent and consistent life of prayer?
3. How does praying together with other believers strengthen our prayers?
The inner spirit, that is, the inner man, is making his prayer with intense desire. He is praying all the time, so that even when he is not praying aloud he is still praying in the spirit. Victorinus (280-363), Epistle to the Ephesians 2.16.18
Pray Psalm 46.8-11.
Pray that God will enable you to rest in Him by prayer throughout the day. Thank and praise Him for all the weapons He has provided so that we can succeed in our warfare.
Sing Psalm 46.8-11.
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
Come see the works of God’s Right Hand! He breaks the nations of the earth,
shatters their foolish weapons and pride, sets all their sinful strength aside.
Them He will show His infinite worth as they before His judgment stand.
Rest in the LORD and be at peace, all who are mired in sore travail.
Lift up our God, praise Jesus our Lord; proclaim to all the earth His Word!
God is our stronghold, never to fail; thus may our hope and joy increase!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: In our ReVision series we turn to examine the essential values of the Kingdom economy. Our Read Moore podcast is now perusing Joy to Your World! The Crosfigell teaching letter continues our study of Coemgen of Glendalough. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
