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.
–Ephesians 6:18
When you read Paul’s inventory of spiritual armor in Ephesians 6, do you notice anything missing? Some people say, “Why isn’t prayer one of the six pieces of armor? Isn’t prayer important in spiritual warfare?” Yes, prayer is essential in spiritual warfare. A fifth way we can control Satan’s influence in our lives by relying on prayer. So why is prayer not one of the pieces of armor in our inventory?
Let me illustrate it this way: Let’s say that I were writing a book on how to dress for success. Do you think chapter one would be “Remember To Breathe”? Probably not. Breathing is certainly important. You have to make sure you are breathing or you will not be able to put on your clothes or do anything else. But although breathing is essential, is also assumed.
Praying is to our spiritual life what breathing is to our physical life. Prayer is the spiritual oxygen that gives us energy. I think Paul did not include prayer as part of these six pieces of armor because it is assumed that we are going to pray. In Ephesians 6:18, he wrapped it all up by saying, “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.” How often should we pray? Paul said we should pray at all times. Just like we are to breathe at all times, we ought to pray at all times.
Finally, as you seek to resist Satan’s influence in your life, remember that victory is possible. If I could only say a minute’s worth of material to somebody about spiritual warfare, here is what I would say: Number one, spiritual warfare is real. It is not imaginary. In fact, spiritual warfare is the reality behind most every conflict you and I face every day. Second, the battle is intense. Any lull you are experiencing right now in Satan’s attack upon your life is only temporary. It is only time for him to reload and come at you again. Third, the enemy is determined. He is not going to rest until he takes you out completely. The landscape is strewn with the corpses of Christian who have underestimated the resolve of the enemy. Fourth, the stakes are high. Your success or defeat in spiritual warfare will determine not only your life, but your eternity. Finally, you can win. You do not have to be spiritual roadkill in this battle. Remember 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He [the Holy Spirit] who is in you than he who is in the world.” It is time for all of us to wake up out of our spiritual stupor. It is time to stand firm. It is time to put on our divine defense.
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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Using Your Divine Defense” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org