Jesus is Greater: What the Bible Teaches about Jesus' Power over DarknessSample

Prayer is one of the most powerful acts of faith—a connective tool that guides us closer to the Lord. After Paul wrote about taking up “the shield of faith,” he implored the church to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Translation? Pray all the time without ceasing. 

Unfortunately, we sometimes tend to turn to prayer only in times of crisis or deep need, but if we condition ourselves to pray daily and continually—not only for ourselves but also for others—we will see powerful life change.

As we seek peace in our lives, prayer should be a central component of our daily routines. This is especially true as we express gratitude for all we have, seek the Lord for His will in our lives, and make other such appeals. And as we solidify this process, it’s essential that we revisit what we know about Satan: he’s an enemy who “prowls . . . like a roaring lion,” who hatches schemes, who tempts and deceives, and who has “blinded the minds of unbelievers.”

It’s so easy to ignore the fact that the “prince of the world” is at work and to pretend it’s not happening and that we’re somehow immune. But we’re not. It’s tragically too easy to fall when we let down our guard, therefore we should be taking the time each day to pray not only for our own strength but also for the strength, courage, and clarity of our friends and family.

Paul wrote that it is essential to “be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (v. 18). Consider creating a list of your friends and loved ones and making the commitment to consistently pray for them. Make it a habit to seek God’s strength, his face, and, most importantly, his will. 

Paul also asked for prayers for himself: “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19–20).

Let’s pray that we, too, can live and share the gospel fearlessly, finding the peace that only God can give and escaping the evil that can so easily permeate our environment when we ignore his truth.