“18 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, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:18-24, NASB).

C) The Place of Prayer in Your Life

Ephesians 6:18-24

What do you believe about prayer? We can say many things in answer to this question, but it is our actual prayer lives, whether we like it or not, that give us the answer. Do you pray? How do you pray? How often do you pray? If we believe prayer is important, then we will make time for it.

What do you believe about prayer?

If we do not make time for prayer, serious prayer–‘at all times’ prayer, then we should recognize that prayer is not important to us. Prayer is one of the places Christians lie most to themselves. Things are much worse than they believe or want to believe. If we talked about a person who ate one piece of bread or five chopstick’s worth of rice a day, we would urgently tell them that they need to eat more. When we do this in our prayer life, however, we just nod our heads and agree that we all are so busy.

One of the things that I have done to stir me on in my prayer life was to understand what the lack of prayer meant in my life.

• If I pray little for my wife, then it means that I do not care much for her spiritual growth. I do not care for her.
  
  
• If I do not pray for my children, it means that I do not care if something bad happens to them and certainly not concerned whether they grow to be godly children.
  
  
• If I do not wholeheartedly pray about my ministry or area of service, then it reveals that I can confidently do these things without God.
  
  
• If I try to help a straying individual without soaking it in prayer, then it shows how arrogant I am.
  
  
• If I think I or others can have a good life without a good prayer life, we are utterly sold into the world and have not an inkling of the spiritual kingdom of God.
  
  
• If I only pray to pass a test but not how I live my life, it reveals that one is worldly ambitious rather than carrying out God’s will while I am a student.
  

We need to get honest. If we ought to pray at all times but do not, then it points out real flaws in our beliefs about our lives and ministries. We often allow the flesh, the old man, to take control over our lives. When we do this, it is us that we are serving and not our God or others. We typically are worried and fearful when things do not go our way.

Our faith largely shapes our prayer life. Our prayer life shapes our faith. We must make a turn around in the discipline of our lives. IM, instant messaging, blogging, internet, photos and Facebook are only a few reminders of the importance and delight of friendship. Have we, however, been able to resist the pull of the world by remembering our position seated in the heavenly places and talk to God?

Our prayers and petitions are strategic in bringing God’s blessings down to earth. With our prayers, the world can be changed, darkness can become light, falsehood to uprightness, injustice to concern. God has strategically placed each of us to carry out His works in our lives. It would be a great shame if we squandered our position and privilege with Him if we were to know the many needs around us but never talked seriously to Him about them. He is waiting.

Where are our prayers? Where are our prayers? Oh, may the world be filled with our prayers and ever be changed through God’s glorious goodness. This is God’s design: bring His great blessings to all the world through our lives.

Next => Bible study questions on Ephesians 6:18-24

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