“Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks.” – Ephesians 6:10-11 

 

Prayer is the backbone of every person’s life. The apostle Paul, penned down the importance of prayer with these verses so delicately that there is no better way to explain as to why it is as important as anything else. It is the weapon that God has given us, to keep ourselves standing tall when the times around us are changing rapidly; so fast that we need to stand firm when the enemy throws his tricks at us.

 

How does prayer keep us alive? On reading Ephesians 6:10-18, we come to know of the beauty of that scripture. Think about reality. We need God’s blessings. We need to keep moving without a barrier. But the enemy is all set to block our paths, to sever our connection with God and our blessings we require from HIm. We need strength, we need power – all to fight off the enemy; to keep the forces of darkness at bay. Hence the only tool powerful enough to keep them where they need to be is prayer itself. Let us read Ephesians 6:10-11 again:

 

Sometimes not all that you see can explain the things around you. We can see everything in the physical realm but can we do the same in the spiritual realm? You are right. The answer is no. You cannot see what happens in the spiritual realm. Which is why you need prayer to keep you going throughout your entire life. Paul’s advice on how to defend ourselves from the attacks of the enemy is as clear as it can be – To submit ourselves to the Lord so that we can defend ourselves from the tricks of the devil.

 

I’m reminded about my youth; all those times when the devil used his tricks to turn me away from the love of God and to feel His presence. But finally, as a shepherd who came to rescue His lamb was Jesus who started to teach me one by one what I lacked in my spiritual life and where my shortcomings were. Yes, I did fail many times to realise that I was being blinded to deviate from the path to Christ. But finally, it was a win-win situation for me and God. I slowly understood the ways of the enemy and started to seek guidance and wisdom. Everything was worth the pain. I feel like I’m jumping in joy. And that’s wonderful. Amen!

 

A LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING BEHIND

 

Most of us have a pleasant, wonderful life to live. But are we actually comprehending what’s happening behind the scenes? To really understand why prayer is important, let us go through the following verses:

 

“We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.” – Ephesians 6:12.

 

We cannot fight what we cannot see. Hence, Paul speaks of what we actually have to fight in our spiritual lives. We have to fight off attacks from the enemy – anything and everything that hinders our spiritual lives. The way to overcome and stand strong is prayer itself by surrendering over ourselves to Christ.

 

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.“ – Matthew 18:18

 

Every attack from the enemy is bound by chains. So this is yet another situation where prayer is needed to loosen the chains which keep you in bondage. And the name of Jesus is the only name which is going to break it apart. Now, I believe by this time you may have found an answer to all your questions. It’s a good thing to keep asking “Why?”. Only then the answers present itself.

 

Paul reminds us to keep “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” – Ephesians 6:18. This is all to stand ourselves holding our head high when times keep changing and also to resist the attacks when they keep changing all the time – in different forms and in different ways.

 

PAUL AND SILAS – A BRIEF STORY

 

In Acts 16:16, Paul and Silas came across a woman “who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling”. She followed Paul and Silas for many days crying out that they are the servants of the Most High God. Having been greatly annoyed, Paul commands the spirit inside her to leave in the name of Jesus. She never had her powers thereafter. Her owners who were doomed at the misfortune finally decided to have them jailed in which they succeeded.

 

That very night Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns to God. The earth shook and the chains of prisoners were unfastened. Seeing the prison doors open by themselves, the jailer in-charge of keeping Paul and Silas at prison decided to kill himself before which they arrived and stopped him from doing such an act.

 

Prayer does wonders – so are we taught. But I have come to realise that we are in fact keeping aside less time for devotion. If you need prayer to do wonders, then you have to focus on achieving those wonders.

More important in prayer is submission – leaving your will to God. Also your heart and your mind should be in deep submission. But why? To be congruent with God’s will.

 

Dear friend, keep a time for everything. Even for prayer. God honors those who honor Him (1 Sam. 2:30). He has never denied anyone their desires. He has always the best plan for you throughout your whole life. All our life’s situations are temporary. We won’t have them for very long provided we stand up to them on our knees. Yes, you can do it. You always have God’s guidance and power to face any grave situation.

 

“Prayer is always a victor’s weapon. It is his secret to success.”

 

God bless

 

Jerin