Posted on June 24, 2016
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[ Spiritual Life ]
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)
At the end of the armor of God passage in Ephesians 6, Paul adds that we should be praying always. In verse 18, he says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keen on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
When we embody each part of the armor and remain connected to God through prayer, we can be prepared to fight every battle that comes our way. It is important to understand that God alone can bring victory, so when we face trials, we can rely on His strength rather than our own.
As Christians, we know that we are sinful in nature and are in need of a Savior. By being devoted in prayer, we express our need for God. In addition, through prayer we can understand what it means to live in a way that is honorable to Him.
How can we continuously be in prayer? Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” No matter what hardships we face in life, we can always turn to God for strength. When we remain in Him, He will guide our path.
God can give us the wisdom, power and bravery it takes to fight against the enemy. All we have to do is ask for it! Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Oftentimes, we become concerned about how to pray and what to pray for. However, when we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, we do not have to worry about praying the “right” way. God knows what is on our hearts, and He cares about every concern we have. While it is easy to become discouraged when it seems as though our prayers go unanswered, we can be confident in knowing God hears us.
As we wrap up the armor of God series, I challenge you to make it a priority to be devoted in prayer. Not only is it important to pray for ourselves to have strength to fight spiritual battles, but we also must pray for other members of the body of Christ. Ultimately, by doing this, we can bring glory to Him.
Since being founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University has been a Christian college with a biblically rooted mission. To learn more about GCU’s Christian identity and heritage, visit our website or contact us today using the Request More Information button at the top of the page.
