Prayer as Our Foundation
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. 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, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Ephesians 6:18-20
Praying matters. Prayers make a difference. Heavenly events influence earthly matters, and God hears and responds to our prayers. As a result, our prayers influence heavenly events.
God is sovereign. He has power and authority over all creation, so everything is subject to His control. We understand that God is a spiritual being, a spiritual realm exists that we cannot see, and we are part spiritual and part physical living in this physical place bound by time and space. God’s holy word explains that events taking place in the spiritual realm, including battles, influence the physical realm, and prayer influences the spiritual realm. Recognizing our need for relationship with God, and the critical importance of spiritual influence, and the dynamic between prayer and events in the spiritual and physical realms, prayer should be fundamental for our lives. We should pray all the time, because prayer matters. But do we?
Let’s consider a few passages revealing that events in the spiritual realm influence the physical realm, and prayer influences it all.
Scripture discusses battles and confrontations taking place in the spiritual realm. In Daniel, God reveals two angels, one named Michael, who protect the nation of Israel by battling spiritual forces representing Persia in the heavenly realm (see Daniel 10:11-14). In Revelation we see Michael, along with other angels, fighting the dragon (see Revelation 12:7), and in Jude we see Michael arguing with the devil (see Jude 1:9).
By describing angels and devils as “princes” of nations (see Daniel 10:13, 21), God indicates spiritual beings and events influence the physical realm. The Psalms and Jesus corroborate the view. The psalmist explains that God will send His angels to protect certain people (see Psalm 91:9-13). He describes it in concrete terms, as if God is making a promise to send angels who will provide protection.
Describing Jesus’ arrest in the garden, Matthew writes,
Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:51-54
Jesus explains that in that moment, He had options. He had a choice to make, and one of the options available to Him was calling on God the Father to send heavenly warriors to earth to battle the humans who were arresting Him. But He chose to continue walking the path that would fulfill God the Father’s will. Had He chosen the other option, it would have involved prayer – He would have called on God the Father to send help. Prayer influences heavenly matters. God responds to prayer.
Daniel records a portion of his visit with the angel as follows:
But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees. He said to me, “Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. Daniel 10:11-12
God heard Daniel’s prayers, saw his sincere desire to gain understanding, saw his humility, and He sent an angel to visit Daniel. Daniel’s prayers influenced heavenly matters.
Praying matters. Prayers make a difference. Heavenly events influence earthly affairs. God hears and responds to our prayers, and as a result, our prayers influence heavenly events. With this in mind, let’s consider once again the passage first set forth above. Paul urges us to pray in the Spirit all the time, and to pray “every prayer and supplication.” He urges us to pray all the time every possible prayer because prayers matter, but what is the context of the passage?
Paul is imprisoned in Rome awaiting execution, and he writes to his friends in Ephesus. He concludes the letter by reminding his readers that their battles are against spiritual forces. By writing that sentence, he presumes that we each are engaged in battles, and he clarifies that our individual battles are waged against spiritual forces. Spiritual forces attack each of us individually. Please pause for a moment and allow that to sink in. Spiritual forces exist and they are attacking each of us individually.
How are you being attacked? Scripture presents a vivid example of attack in the form of temptation. Each of the three synoptic gospels show Satan tempting Jesus while He is alone in the wilderness, and that temptation is part of Jesus’ preparation for ministry (see Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13). Certainly, we each face physical hardship, pain and suffering, which Paul knows all about; however, “our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Like it or not, we are engaged in battles taking place in the spiritual realm.
With that reminder, Paul urges us to make use of every tool God grants us to pursue the battle. He urges us to stand firm and to take up the truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, knowledge of salvation, and the word of God. He describes God’s mighty word as the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). And after all of that, Paul urges us to pray all the time and to pray every possible prayer. Prayer is the foundation upon which the armor of God rests. It provides an umbrella of protection under which the armor of God rests. Prayer is critical to our relationship with God and to proper functioning of the armor.
Then, reminding us that we are each fighting in the spiritual realm against real forces of evil, Paul urges us to stay alert, to persevere, and to pray for others. And because prayers matter, Paul asks his friends to pray for him.
So here we see Paul imprisoned in Rome, asking his friends to pray for him. I imagine if I were in that sort of situation, I would be begging for everyone to pray for my release, to pray for my return to my cozy existence, the comforts of home, the embrace of family and friends, and the accompanying warmth of love. But not Paul. Yes, he asks for prayer, but he asks them to pray that his imprisonment not hinder his ability to serve God. He asks God to allow him to continue boldly declaring the gospel while in prison. Wow.
May you have eyes to see the importance of prayer, may you truly seek God through Christ Jesus, may you grow increasingly in relationship with Him, Amen.