Paul’s injunction in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 was “to pray without ceasing.” This describes his burden for the Lord’s Church to enter into her calling of prayer at all times. Paul’s prayer for the Philippians is most insightful when he said, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9–10 NASB). Locating the prayers of Paul and the other apostles is a profitable study. Incorporate them into your prayer life. This prayer in Philippians is a powerful prayer that truly identifies the Father’s heart for His sons and daughters.
Every day ask the Father and the Son to fill you with their Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead you and direct you throughout the day. You will find yourself praying more as the Spirit of God gives you insights and direction in the day’s activities.
Be on the Alert
Be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18b NASB
Throughout the New Testament, the verb “to pray” carries a number of meanings. A few examples are: to ask, make a request, to desire, beseech and to call to one’s aid. The word “intercession” is used often in today’s church. It speaks of requests made on behalf of others. The Bible does not speak of an office of “intercessor.” The Holy Spirit leads individuals to make a petition on behalf of others. Some are led by the Spirit to pray on behalf of nations. Nations include people groups coming to a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is the sole interpreter of the needs of the human heart. He makes intercession on behalf of the saints. Prayer is impossible to man apart from the Spirit’s help: The Spirit also helps our weakness “for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words” (Romans 8:26b NASB). Believers are exhorted to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18b NASB) and “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20 NASB). “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b NASB).
Paul taught that prayer is made from two sources: “I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (1 Corinthians 14:15 NASB). When Paul spoke of the mind, he was speaking of his understanding. Paul was saying that there are areas of need of which we are aware of in our minds. We don’t need a special revelation to pray. Just pray! There are other needs of prayer which come by revelation through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke of his own spirit praying and singing. In the context of the chapter, he is addressing the subject of the private use of tongues.
Just as Paul said in Ephesians 6:18, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all saints. This is one of our assignments, beloved. As we put on the armor of God daily, let us make sure we do not neglect this exhortation. This would be a good time to commit or recommit yourself to a lifestyle of prayer. Prepare for the battle! The war is on with the kingdom of darkness. The saints of God must be engaged in the battle or suffer loss.