Martin Luther King, Jr and PrayerSample

Pray About Everything

Ephesians 6 verse 18 says “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life was littered with turmoil. He travailed through deep abysses of darkness throughout his journey, including stress, physical issues, multiple jailings, and assassination attempts. So why, amid so much negativity, does his legacy reflect so much love and hope?

King was a fighter for justice whose greatest weapon was prayer. His life was devoted to persistent prayer. He prayed often in private and took a regular “Day of Silence” to cleanse himself from life’s clamor, while availing himself of God’s guidance and refreshment.

Another fighter, the apostle Paul, declared in Ephesians 6:12 that our battle as believers in Jesus isn’t against “flesh and blood, but . . . against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” King knew this—that behind the human beings who hated him were truly sinister spiritual forces. Through nonviolent protest, He chose to combat those forces with steadfast love and prayer.

Today, like King, we can “put on the full armor of God” to fight against evil and hatred by taking our “stand against the devil’s schemes” (v. 11). In God’s strength, we’re more than conquerors whenever we “pray in the spirit on all occasions” (v. 18). We have an ever-flowing connection to that strength on a daily basis. Prayer is the bridge.

How would you describe your prayer life? How can you pray more effectively in your current battles?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, please help me rely on You and Your strength and pray about everything.