Everyday Armor

Part 4: Our Secret Weapon

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Summary

As Christ-followers, we are in a battle. Our enemy wants to render us ineffective for the Kingdom of God. The devil longs to deceive us and get a foothold in our minds, home, workplace, and church. But, our God is greater. God gives us spiritual armor for the battle, and the last piece of armor is prayer. Prayer invites God into our situations and struggles. Our God is greater! Prayer changes things and prayer changes us. Let’s be people who pray because we know that God will ultimately win the battle! We are on the winning team. So let’s put on the full armor of God and pray in all situations. Our God is with us and He is for us! Let’s pray!

Content
The Power of Prayer

In any large war or battle, the enemy always goes after the communication of their opposition. They go after the communication towers or other things that their opponent uses, knowing that’s when their enemy becomes most vulnerable. They’re vulnerable when they cannot communicate with the other soldiers or their commander.

Likewise, our enemy, the devil, knows that we are most vulnerable when we are not in communication with our Commander, God. It’s through prayer that we become more like Jesus and where we fight our battles against the enemy. Prayer is what protects us and what keeps us connected with God. The enemy will do anything and everything he can to keep us from speaking with God, but that’s why we must be constant and consistent in prayer.

Prayer is powerful. It should be a priority in our lives. It can be purpose-filled and purposeful. And, it holds potential to change things, change others, and change us.

What the Bible Says about our Secret Weapon

As we come to the close of this series, we’re looking at Ephesians 6:18-20 where we read Paul’s words about our secret weapon, prayer. This weapon is both offensive and defensive, and, as Paul writes, we need to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18). He’s intentional and specific here saying that we need to be praying in all occasions with all kinds of prayers. Prayer should undergird and drive all that we think, say, believe, and do. 

It’s also important to note that Paul writes this passage of Scripture when he’s in prison for proclaiming the name of Jesus. After instructing his readers to be constant in prayer, he then asks that they would be praying for him, that he may declare it fearlessly, as I should (Ephesians 6:20). By “it,” Paul is talking about the Gospel. Rather than ask his readers to pray that he would be released from prison or that he would get justice for those who put him in captivity, he instead prays that he would be bolder and fearless in sharing the Good News of Jesus with those he comes into contact with. 

That’s the power and potential of prayer. Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for your life for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Pray continually – that means without stopping, without interruption, and with consistency. God is always listening and wants to hear from you. 

What are you praying for?

Prayer is not only essential in the life of a believer, but it is integral. We cannot face our battles without going to the Lord in prayer. Beyond asking just for help for whatever we’re facing, however, we can also pray for God to use us.

Like Paul, rather than praying for relief or for a situation to go away, we can look at it and see how God is using us in that circumstance. Then, in turn, our prayer becomes, “God, how can you use me today?” Prayer brings God into our situation, and He will always be there to fight for us and to move in our hearts to make us more like Him. We must be willing to ask for prayer and to trust that prayer really does bring healing and hope. 

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us, and we know He will have the victory. One day, there will be no more pain, hurt, brokenness, and loss. One day we won’t have to face the struggles that we do today because we will be with Jesus forever. He will bring ultimate healing. He will be victorious, and we will be co-heirs with Him.

Until then, we can find hope in Jesus in the middle of the battle. We can bring those battles to Him and wait to see how He will change us in the midst of it all. 

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