...pray in the Spirit...

“18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brothers and sisters and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 6:18-24.

Dear friends, this is some of the most beautiful and helpful advice about prayer you will ever have: “18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.” The word “supplication” means “plea” or “petition”, and “saints” refers to all the other Christians. But there is also ample room to consider “saints” as other people in need of your prayers.

So what Paul is saying here, in my opinion, is this: Pray in the presence of the Holy Spirit, the One and only God of the universe, whose presence and love and power in our life is in the form of the Holy Spirit of God. When you pray, remember that you are never alone, in other words. God is with you!  In fact, whenever you pray, it is the Spirit of God who has drawn you to pray. The Spirit of God is the grace and presence of God who calls you to stop and pray. And Paul tells us always to be aware of the Sprit of God who is with you when you pray. And always pray in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Never fear that you are alone! And every time you plea with God, or lift up any and every kind of petition or need to God, pray knowing that the very Holy Spirit of God is with you, pulling at your heart to pray as you are praying. Pray always knowing that God hears your plea, your petition, your “supplication” to Him!

And then Paul advises us to “keep alert” in our prayer time. Stay focused, in other words, on the Spirit of God who has called you to pray. Give Him thanks! Praise God and pray that His Kingdom and His Power and His Glory will come upon His creation and into your life — just as it is in heaven! Pray that God will bless you and all others this day with His Holy Spirit, and think also of specific people who have asked you to pray for them. To “keep alert” also includes that we pray for the sufficient grace of God so that we may recognize temptations that come to our minds. Pray always for the mercy and forgiveness for our own sins and the sins of others. And “keep alert” that you have forgiven those who have sinned against you.

Finally, “keeping alert” includes praying that God will bless your mind, bless your thinking, whenever you are tempted. Temptation, as we all know, is a thought that comes to our mind that leads us to sin, to choose sin rather than God.

So these words of Paul above are hugely important advice given to us all for prayer. and like every gift from God, this advice, or gift, of Paul to us comes to us on its way to there. so share this advice with others, with your spouse and family and friends. Encourage others to pray in the presence of the Holy Spirit at all times in every prayer and request to God. Keep alert in your life and in your prayer, and always persevere in praying for others. Let pray be central to your living every day.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, I pray to You at this moment, not just for me,

but for all others who need You.

Bless my family and friends, as well as all others who need You,

and fill them with Your Holy Spirit.

Fill me today, and all others, with your Holy Spirit.

Help us all to be Spirit-filled followers and lovers of You.

Protect us from temptation and sin, and help us to choose You

in everything we do this day.

May all our thoughts and choices come from Your Spirit.

And this we pray in Your holy Name, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, amen.

From the Bible:

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” Matthew 6:5-15.

“11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, may your name be revered as holy.    May your kingdom come.

3 Give us each day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.    And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? 13 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” Luke 11:1-13.