“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.” (Eph. 6:18)

    Having donned the armor of God the faithful saint is encouraged to do one more thing, pray. Prayer then can be added to the powerful weapons at the Christian’s disposal. Put on the armor and then pray. Pray all the time and pray for all the saints.

    Did you notice all the ‘alls’ in this verse? All prayer, all times, all perseverance and petition, and all the saints. If Paul is right about this, and the Christian believes he is because God inspired him, then prayer might just be the most effective means we have at keeping that Roaring Lion at bay.

    All prayer. Not some, not a little, but all prayer. Embracing the very idea of prayer. Praying in every way and in every circumstance and every situation. All times. Morning, noon, night. When you get up and when you lie down, and every time you encounter the works, words, or presence of evil. All perseverance. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t say, “I told God once, and that’s enough.” Keep praying. Over and over again. Like an eternal flame of incense, the prayers of the faithful saints must rise into the heavenly places and reach the throne of God. All the saints. Don’t just pray for yourself or just your family or just your group. Pray for God’s people everywhere who are no doubt facing the evil one even as we pray. Satan is everywhere, and he leaves no one alone. The saints depend on each other for prayer.

    This admonition for “all” praying is not without purpose. While general prayers are okay, this verse is in connection with the battle taking place for which we have put on the armor of God. We are to have all prayer to support each other against the enemy of mankind.

    We are, the apostle says, to be on the alert. We should be watching for where the battle is the thickest, the enemy the strongest, and defeat the most likely. Perhaps it is in countries with invalid leadership. Maybe it’s where drugs or numerous. We might see a danger in education leadership that laughs at the thought of God. Where is Satan roaming today? Who is about to be devoured?

    Task for Today: Be a prayer warrior. Pray for yourself. Pray for your family. Pray for your church fellowship and pray for the church of God worldwide. Pray for saints in difficult places, places where Satan rules. Pray for those where the battle is raging, and the stakes are the highest. Never forget, even for a moment, that we are in a war to the death and to the end.