“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 (ESV)
I want to quote this verse in several different translations.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” Eph. 6:18 (NKJV)
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Eph. 6:18 (NLT)
And my favorite ~
“Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.” Eph. 6:18 (TPT)
When I am looking at a scripture for study I will usually pull from different translations to see if I can get the full meaning of it. And then I will also go to a commentary to see what the scholars (people way smarter than me) have to say about it. Without even going to commentary I can look at these different translations and see what Paul is saying to the Ephesians is simply, pray all the time. Pray with all prayer and supplication ~ we already know from scripture we studied last week that supplication simply means to ask and keep on asking, beg if you have to! Even though I didn’t need to go to commentary, I did and I liked what it said.
“We should use every kind of prayer we can think of. Group prayer, individual prayer, silent prayer, shouting prayer, walking prayer, kneeling prayer, eloquent prayer, groaning prayer, constant prayer, fervent prayer – just pray.”
How many times have you heard someone say or you and I have said “all we can do is pray”. And usually that is said as if it is a last resort with a sigh! But friends let me say ALL that we can do for each other is PRAY!! It is the most we can do. We can make supplication for each other, we can persevere for each other, we can pray when we are walking, we can pray when we are driving, we can whisper silent prayers under our breath when we are working. And you can even get to shouting, kneeling, groaning on behalf of someone if that is what is needed. Pray on all occasions!
And ok, this is just from me and my own experience, but the more you pray earnestly and fervently for a situation or circumstance or for another person, the more you will see God at work in it, the more you will feel His presence in it and the more it will come naturally to you to pray!
This verse followed the passages in Ephesians about putting on the full armor of God. That is no accident ~ there was meaning in it. Prayer is how we go to battle! Friends, you know that thing that has been eating at you for years, that, wayward child, that money issue, that family issue, keep on praying. Pray passionately for it. Keep on interceding constantly at all times! And pray for each other! If all you can do is pray for me and mine, then by all means I am honored that you would pray for me! Find it a privilege to pray for each other.
Just Pray! And pray passionately!
Restore 