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Overcome Everything with Prayer

Paul ends his description of the armor of God with a call to prayer. He writes, “[pray] always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18 NKJV). Paul makes it clear that you are in an ongoing war. Your enemy is Satan, who has usurped your rightful dominion over the earth. Prayer represents your line of communication that connects you to your Leader, giving you His strength and direction. Prayer is thus the arching key to being an Overcomer. 

Even though Jesus is no longer physically on the earth, prayer—that is, communication with the Father—is still important to Him. Right now, at this very moment, He is at the right hand of God interceding for you (see Romans 8:34)! If the Lord Jesus considers it important for Him to pray—and He has been interceding at the throne of God for the last 2,000 years—this should tell those of us who are less diligent in our prayer life that something is missing.

Every occasion, every place, and every time is an opportunity to pray. As Paul wrote, you are to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV). This doesn’t mean you walk around mumbling mantras under your breath. Rather, it means that any time you have a spare moment, keep the communication lines open between yourself and God. Your goal as an Overcomer is to reach out in prayer at any moment and immediately be in touch with God. 

There are several ways the Bible instructs you to pray. First, pray with supplication, which means to ask God to provide for your needs. God promises those prayers will be heard and answered. As you pray in this manner, it will deepen your connection with God so you know His will. As you see your prayers being answered, it will draw you closer to the mind of God and improve the effectiveness of your prayers. Such prayers will compel you to acknowledge God as the source of all you have and will increase your ability to receive from Him.

Remember it is the Holy Spirit who directs, shapes, and corrects the prayers of all sincere believers who are fully committed to doing God’s will. He knows your intent when you pray and will take your fumbling words and reshape them to reveal the deepest needs beneath the surface (see Romans 8:26–27). Watchman Nee once observed, “Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.” It is the Holy Spirit who gives our prayers real power. 

Note that in Paul’s instructions to the believers, he told them to be watchful (see Ephesians 6:18). To be watchful means “to be awake” or “to be vigilant.” When you commit to praying each day, the enemy will try to attack you with all forms of distractions, doubts, and temptations in an effort to get you to abandon your prayer habits. So guard your prayer time and keep your prayers constantly flowing. Focus your prayers as precisely as you can, being persistent, trusting that the intention of your prayer will be heard and understood.

As you embrace the practice of prayer, you’ll find many ways to fill your life with it. Pray in the ways that come naturally, then grow and mature your practice of prayer steadily. Fill your life with the joyful discipline of praying without ceasing. This is how to prepare yourself for communication with your Commander as you engage in life’s daily battles. This is a key foundation to life as an Overcomer.

Respond 

What struggles do you have in praying? What tools can you use to keep communication with God open?

How have you learned to use prayer and Bible study to prepare you for spiritual battles? How did God speak to you during this time?

How have you seen the Holy Spirit help you to be persistent and effective in prayer?