by Cheri Floyd
Ephesians 6:18 - “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (NIV)
How do you feel about praying in front of a congregation Sunday morning? For many of us, it is like public speaking. The heart pounds, the mouth feels dry and our brains shut down. Maybe we listen to the pastor pray from the pulpit and think “I can’t do that.”
How do you picture a prayer warrior? Perhaps your mental picture is a grandmother. She’s retired and spends much time in her rocking chair, reading her Bible and praying for you. Maybe you are a single parent with three kids who play after school sports and think “I can’t do that.”
But Ephesians 6:18 is for ALL OF US who follow Jesus.
We can pray on ALL OCCASIONS. Before we eat. At church. Before we go to bed. When we get up. Before a sporting event. At the airport as friends leave. While stuck in traffic. Sometimes we pray after we’ve done everything else that we know to do. But I want to pray as a first resort, not a last resort. In 2019 I want to pray on ALL OCCASIONS.
Ephesians also says we should use ALL KINDS of prayer. I am a natural introvert. Praying alone silently often suits me. But it does me good to get with my brothers and sisters and be forced to pray aloud. We support each other in a way that just doesn’t happen anywhere else. On the other hand, you might currently do most of your praying at church with others. Remember, even extroverts benefit from time alone with God in prayer. John Wesley said Ephesians 6:18 includes “All sorts of prayer- public, private, mental, vocal. Do not be diligent in one kind of prayer and negligent in others... let us use all.”
In 2019 may ALL OF US experience of ALL KINDS of prayer, praying more often on ALL OCCASIONS. Imagine what God will do!