Weapons for the Believer: 6 - Prayer

Weapons for the Believer: 6 - Prayer

According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We are considering ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked at the first five in previous posts. If you haven’t read them I encourage you to do so.

The next weapon on the list is prayer.

6. Prayer.

I once visited a young lady in the ICU. She was in grave physical condition. While speaking with her she made a comment that speaks to how most Believers view prayer. She said, “I guess all we can do now is pray.” After all was done by the medical team attending to her care she was still not improving. She had come to the resolve that it was now up to God to help her.

My response to her was simply, “And prayer is enough.” You see, God is ready to hear us whenever we call out to Him. The challenge for the Believer is to pray on the outset instead of under duress. Prayer should be our first alternative, not the last.

This weapon is really the first one we have considered that has within it a sense of offense. However, regular prayer will serve as a great defense. Prayer is our means of communing with our Father. When we pray with the direction of the Holy Spirit we get our spirit in tune with God, and allow Him to speak His heart and wisdom to help us navigate the events that will make up our day.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Paul exhorted those in Thessalonica to “pray without ceasing.” How is that possible? Was Paul just waxing poetic? I don’t think so. I have found that God doesn’t waste words that He placed in the Bible. I have a plausible explanation. If you have another thought on this I’d love to hear it. I do not claim to have the only explanation of this.

First of all, not all prayer is praise, but all praise is prayer. Whenever you give praise to God it is a form of prayer. Secondly, looking at Paul’s words to the Church at Ephesus we see these words.

Ephesians 1:11-12 (ESV)

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

We are to “be” to the praise of His glory. In other words, as we live our lives in fellowship with God, we are living in a state of prayer to Him, simply “being” with our Father as we walk through each day.

There is a need for times of intentional prayer; times where we bring our concerns to the Lord, and to hear His thoughts about them. Paul said it like this to Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

A weapon that keeps us a peace is quite a powerful weapon. It reminds me somewhat of the Cold War between the US and USSR. We both had nuclear weapons. Knowing the other had megatons of firepower kept either from attacking. I believe, in a similar way, when we exercise our privilege of prayer we keep the enemy at bay because we remain in close communion with our God. The closer we stay to Father the further the enemy will remain from us.

When praying, there is a place to make requests. Paul used the word “supplications.” Unfortunately, many Believers stop with this type of prayer. The second type of prayer Paul mentioned is simply “prayers.” The Greek word here means “oratory.” In other words, we are to spend time simply talking to the Lord. We should share with Him what is on our mind. He already knows, but praying these things will help us.

The third type of prayer mentioned in 1 Timothy 2 is “intercessions.” This is where we come to God on behalf of another. I have found that I can have more faith praying for others than I can for my own needs. That is the power of intercession. The final type of prayer Paul instructed Timothy to practice is “thanksgivings.” This is self-explanatory, but often is overlooked or forgotten, just like the nine leapers that were healed but did not return to give thanks. Jesus asked the one who returned, “Where are the other nine?” Never neglect thanksgiving to God. We have so many reasons to give thanks.

There is much more that could be said about prayer. This is not the forum for an in-depth look. Just be sure to use prayer in your life as a Believer. It is essential to survive spiritual warfare.