Pray Always

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

Verse 17 of Ephesians 6 doesn’t end with a period. It ends with a semicolon, indicating that Paul was still discussing the same subject. The armor, the sword, and now prayer are all part of one connected thought. Paul did not shift subjects in verse 18 to begin discussing prayer. He is still talking about how you stand and fight. Prayer is a vital part of our spiritual warfare.

The Greek word for always used in this verse is pas, and it means at any time, in any place, and under any circumstance. “All prayer” also uses the word pas. So Paul wrote that any prayer can be used anywhere, at any time, and in any place. Paul deliberately used the broadest possible language because he did not want the believer to try to put prayer in a box. He made it clear that prayer is not something you do only when you are on your knees in a quiet room with your eyes closed and your hands folded. That is one expression of prayer, but that is not the whole picture.

Most believers have a much smaller view of prayer than the Bible presents. When you say “prayer,” people automatically think of petitioning God for something specific. Or they may think about a liturgy they learned growing up like reciting the “Our Father” prayer or other familiar prayers at familiar times. Those things have their place and are not without merit, but Jesus and Paul saw prayer as far more encompassing. Prayer is called to be a posture just as much as it is a practice. It is the ongoing, all-the-time conversation a believer has with God. Then Paul added at the end of this that we are called to be watching with all perseverance. Real, purposeful prayer requires alertness. You have to pay close attention to what the Holy Spirit is telling you and prompting you to do.

Practical Application

Be sensitive and listen. Perseverance means not giving up when it becomes inconvenient or when you feel it’s been too long since you last asked. You keep praying, you keep declaring, you keep moving forward. Never stop talking to or listening to the Lord.

Colossians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17