“There are no atheists in foxholes,” the saying goes. How important is prayer? Everyone prays to something (or someone). Do you pray? Who do you pray to? What do you pray about? How often do you pray? How is your prayer life?
Paul had a dynamic, robust prayer life. When he heard about the faith of the Ephesian believers, he wrote to them and said, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers (Eph 1:16).” To pray without ceasing is a lot of praying! It is an attitude and stature of prayer, when you lie down and when you rise up. It is persistence and being consumed to be in prayer for that person or issue. How often are you praying for that person or issue in your life? Pray without ceasing.
Paul gave thanks (to God) for the Ephesian believers. Giving thanks should be part of our prayers. We give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name; He is good and His steadfast love endures forever. He’s put people in your life and put you in situations that you can be grateful for. We are to give thanks in all things (Rom 14:6; 1 Thes 5:18) and pray with thanksgiving in the name of Jesus. Who (or what) in your life are you grateful for? Is that part of your prayer life?
Paul prayed for the Ephesians, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him (Eph 1:17).” He prays to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. Good prayers are trinitarian, involving all three members of the Godhead. And it is a great quality to pray for: the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. We need to pray to know God better. Who doesn’t need that? He also prayed that they would have the eyes of their hearts enlightened, and that they may know what is the hope to which God had called them. He prayed they would know the riches of his glorious inheritance and the immeasurable greatness of his power toward all who believe, according to the working of his great might (Eph 1:18-19). We need to pray every day to know God’s riches and His power in our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
Paul also made much of Jesus in his prayer. He spoke of “the Father’s great power that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Eph 1:20-21).” Do you remember Christ in all your prayers?
A pastor from the 1800s, E.M. Bounds, said, “People who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees in prayer. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, he will be in the last place the remainder of the day.” What are you praying about? When do you pray? How is your prayer life this season?