Prayer and Supplication
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jul 5, 2024
- 2 min read
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)
“Now, all we can do is pray.” How many times have you heard someone say this? It’s almost as if they have exhausted all options and will now ask God for help as a last resort. Prayer should never be our last resort but rather it should be our first move.
Paul explained the importance of prayer in Ephesians 6:18. He said we should always pray with all kinds of prayers. In other words, there are different types of prayer for various situations. A common prayer is supplication, which is a humble, earnest, heartfelt entreaty or request. You would pray this prayer for yourself or others, asking for guidance, favor, wisdom, or resources.
Praise and worship are prayers that don’t ask God for anything. These prayers declare God’s goodness and offer Him thanks for what He has done. Praise and worship make God bigger in our eyes, so our problems seem much smaller.
Prayers of intercession stand in the gap for others; they are often for unbelievers who can’t pray for themselves. Abraham interceded on behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, asking God to spare the cities if He could find ten righteous there. (Genesis 18:23-32)
Paul noted that our praying should be done in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is praying in tongues. It is a supernatural language that allows you to pray for things you don’t understand or know about. When we pray in the Spirit, we are praying the perfect will of God over a situation.
Finally, Paul explained we are called to pray for all saints. So, we should pray for the body of Christ, not only at our church but throughout the world. For the body of Christ to do its job to the best of its ability, we need to have believers interceding and praying.
Practical Application
Remember to pray for the persecuted church all over the world. Pray for Christians who live under severe threats. Stand in the gap for their protection, favor, and for doors to be open to the Gospel despite the persecution.
