Prayer And Petition

“With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 NET

Paul’s profound recognition of the significance of always praying diligently in the Spirit cannot be overstated. This is the foundation of our support for all of the saints as we desire to deepen our relationship with Christ and our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

It’s awe-inspiring to realize that God’s grand plan for humanity in Christ was always intended to be fulfilled in and through His believers.

There’s a prevalent misunderstanding that Jesus will personally restore all things and make the world new upon His return. In reality, Jesus has entrusted this monumental task to His saints, those who fervently pray and intercede for others. But who exactly are these saints? According to Jesus, everyone is a saint by default. He sacrificed Himself for everyone to become sons and daughters of the Most High; thus, all people are saints in His eyes. This profound understanding of our identity as saints can significantly transform our relationship with Christ and our dedication to prayer.

Jesus comes to us as we gather with other believers and share our portion of Christ. The fullness of Christ becomes more apparent when we do this. It is like a mosaic that is formed but still needs to be completed. We are aware of the mosaic, our part in it, and the need for others to add their distinctive contributions to allow Christ to become more fully formed and evident in our lives together.

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? Paul clarifies that praying in the Spirit is praying in Jesus Christ: “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:19 NET. Paul reminds us that Christ is not just a distant figure, but a living presence within us, transforming us into His likeness. This transformation is not a result of our own efforts to be better, but a beautiful outcome of our surrender and submission to His loving kindness. This process brings us into our true calling as sons and daughters of God. Praying in Christ is a personal journey, a unique path of allowing Him to reveal the needs that He has placed on our hearts regarding the things and people we encounter daily. It has been said in past times Jesus breaks our hearts with the things that break His heart; that is how we pray in the Spirit.

Paul also reminds us to be alert because the greatest opportunities open up to us each and every day, with Jesus showing us what and who to pray for. Even if we do not contact others directly, we are given standing orders to pray and intercede for the things and others that have touched our hearts. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NET. But what is not said is that with Jesus in your heart/mind, His desires become our desires, igniting a transformative fire within us. It is about the death of our old life and the rebirth of a new life in Christ, and His desires become our greatest desire for His kingdom in the lives of others and His kingdom occupying this world.

There are times when it feels impossible to pray constantly. In truth, relying solely on our efforts makes it impossible. However, when we are spiritually connected to Jesus, the Spirit prays through us, guiding our prayers and leading us to contemplate in Him. This enables us to pray in alignment with His desires, bringing power and effectiveness to our prayers.

Even with praying for others or praying for this world, what is the end game? What is our sacrifice? “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own, but because you are not of the world, I chose you out of the world; therefore, the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” John 15:18-20 ESV. We are told by Jesus that we are called to suffer for Him, but that suffering doesn’t have to be uninformed, without wisdom, or without purpose. “and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV. 

So when we are called to suffer, we are called to be wise and not just allow ourselves to be victimized haphazardly but to allow suffering to be a catalyst for our change. It is being alert and diligent concerning our surroundings and the people we surrounded ourselves with. This is a call to responsibility, to be aware of our environment and the impact of our relationships. This way we can pray effectively and passionately for the kingdom of God to be made visible and tangible.

Stephen Barnett