Ephesians Prayer Guide - Day 23

May we be a people committed to prayer! Pray for our individual witness and for those who carry the Good News (church leaders, missionaries…pray for them by name).

Pray Ephesians 6:18-20

Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. 19 And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel. 20 Yes, pray that I may preach the wonderful news of God’s kingdom with bold freedom at every opportunity. Even though I am chained as a prisoner, I am his ambassador. TPT™

We are called to “pray at all times”, to “constantly intercede”. Realistically, I think this kind of lifestyle can only be cultivated over time. When we assume the Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12)…we must take this statement as truth to deposit into our lives, and thus, begin to make movement towards it.

(I)nstead of debating if it is possible to pray at all times or not, I think it’s more productive to think of the opportunity that God gives us. Not everyone has access to God. Most people in your town and near Chicago (where I live) don’t have access to God in prayer. But for those of us in Christ, “we have boldness and access with confidence by faith” (Ephesians 3:12 ). Praying at All Times, Kevin Halloran, Anchored in Christ

I love how Kevin Halloran articulated this – as an “opportunity that God gives us”, something in which “not everyone has access to”. THAT is a perspective change. It is my PRIVILEGE to step into and pursue this lifestyle of praying “at all times”!

We are called to pray for those who pour out for the Gospel’s sake, as well as pray for our own words that carry life! Pray this Word over your pastors, over the other pastors you know in your community and for any missionaries you are connected to. There is POWER in speaking His Word!

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God praising him always. Philippians 4:6-8 TPT™

The words to the chorus of the old hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” ring in my heart as I read this passage:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Keep your eyes heavenward! Be CONSUMED with Him and the constant prayer will come about naturally. Pray the passage from Philippians over your own prayer life (simply replace “you” with “me”…)

No stranger who has put trust in the Eternal should ever say,
“I don’t count. I’m not part of Eternal’s chosen people.”
And no eunuch should ever say,
“I am all dried up, worthless and empty.”
4 For this is what the Eternal has to say:

Eternal One: The eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
make good choices, and follow the terms of My covenant
will blossom with My blessing.
5 I will give them, within My house, an enduring memorial
and a name better than if they had sons and daughters—
A name that will never be forgotten and will continue to inspire
and encourage forever.
6 And of those strangers who are not among the chosen people Israel
yet have bound themselves to the Eternal,
Attend to God, and love all that the Eternal is and does;
if they serve Him, keep the Sabbath, make good choices, and cling to the terms of the covenant,
7 I will bring them into My holy mountain where no foreigner is allowed
and give them a joyful welcome within My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will find acceptance on My altar
because My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. Isaiah 56:3-7 VOICE

These words must have come as a surprise to the Hebrews. They were the called-out ones and had been commanded to keep themselves separate from their pagan neighbors. Now they hear these words of inclusion. They are told it doesn’t matter who they are or where they’ve come from or what “imperfections” they might have. Any who have bound themselves to Israel’s God—even if they’re not Israel, even if they are not “whole”—belong to Him and will enjoy all the wonders that He has in store for them. One day it will be clear that they are a sign of God’s goodness and mercy, that God’s justice is on display through their lives. They are to live as the light of God to the neighboring countries. [VOICE commentary]

As we pray for our hearts and minds to give in “praying at all times”, let’s also pray for this mark over our church homes – that each would become and embrace their identities as “a house of prayer”! Pray that we would be welcoming houses to all those who love and “have bound themselves to the Eternal”.

Pray that the Church would become a HOUSE OF PRAYER for all nations! Pray that the ripple effect of pressing in to be a people who are constantly given to prayer – would be a spirit-led house on fire for Him! To God be ALL the Glory! Amen!