This Day-14 and final devotion is adapted from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon "Praying Always”

The Power of Prayer

"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18)

After describing the armor of God, Paul emphasizes prayer—not as an afterthought but as the atmosphere in which spiritual warfare occurs. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, concluding his series on spiritual depression, identified prayerlessness as both a symptom and a cause of spiritual despair.

Prayer, according to Lloyd-Jones, is the "supreme achievement of the soul"—the highest exercise of our spiritual faculties. Yet many Christians treat it as optional or peripheral rather than essential to spiritual health. When depression descends, prayer is often the first spiritual discipline abandoned, creating a downward spiral of increasing disconnection from God.

Paul's instruction is comprehensive: "Praying at all times" (not just in crisis), "in the Spirit" (not merely from human effort), "with all prayer and supplication" (using every form of prayer available), and "for all the saints" (not just for personal concerns). This thoroughness suggests that prayer isn't incidental to spiritual warfare but integral to it.

Lloyd-Jones emphasized that prayer is a test of what we truly believe. We may intellectually assent to God's power, presence, and love, but our prayer habits reveal whether these truths have captured our hearts. The spiritually depressed person often has correct theology but fails to translate it into prayerful dependence.

Prayer leads to self-examination—not the morbid introspection that deepens depression but the honest assessment that drives us to God. Through prayer, we discover our weakness and ignorance, which paradoxically becomes a source of strength as we lean more fully on divine resources.

Lloyd-Jones encouraged believers to "keep your armor bright" through regular prayer. Just as physical armor requires maintenance to prevent rust and damage, spiritual armor must be maintained through consistent communion with God.

Today, as we conclude this journey through spiritual depression, commit to making prayer the foundation of your recovery and ongoing spiritual health. Don't wait until you feel better to pray; pray that you may feel better. Don't pray only about your depression; pray through your depression to the God who promises to hear and respond.