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"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Text: Ephesians 6:18

A QUICK REVIEW

Paul’s understanding of prayer is truly deep. When he thinks about prayer he has the following features in mind.

1. Praying always

Prayer is never a one-off thing. To properly understand prayer, one must “pray always”.

2. Prayer and supplication

Prayer is sometimes very intense. There are general prayers, and there are also strong supplications to be made to the Lord.

3. Praying in the Spirit

Prayer is best offered when one is truly in close touch with the Spirit of God. It is He who must lead us into greater prayerfulness.

4. Watching and praying

Prayer must be offered with a tremendous sense of alertness. One must seek to be as fully watchful as possible in prayer.

ANOTHER ELEMENT ADDED

Paul added another element to his understanding and practice of prayer. He added the idea of “perseverance” (“proskarteresis”). Let us take time to ponder the following elements attached to this word.

1. The verbal idea (“proskartereo”)

The verbal idea must be considered alongside, in order to get the full picture.

a) It describes the idea of “devoting oneself” to a cause, to work.

b) It describes the idea of “continuing in” the work designated.

2. The noun idea

The noun idea becomes clearer when we ponder the verbal aspect.

a) Perseverance is to be understood as personal devotion.

b) Perseverance is to be understood as “continuing activity”.

c) Perseverance in prayer is therefore something to which the believer devotes himself to doing. He finds himself attending to the ministry of prayer as a minister of God would.