Prayer overcomes everything! Do you believe that? Does your prayer life reflect that? To overcome everything with prayer we must believe that prayer can overcome everything.
…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… –Ephesians 6:18
Praying at all times…
We are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and Jesus told us we “ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). In Scripture, we see examples of praying before daylight (Mark 1:35), all night (Luke 6:12), night and day (1 Timothy 5:5), when alone (Luke 9:18), when together (Acts 2:42) and continually (Acts 6:4).
A great conductor was walking down the streets of New York when someone stopped him and asked how to get to Carnegie Hall. The conductor answered, “Practice, practice, practice.” The same is true of prayer. We must learn to live in steadfast conversation with God just as we incessantly connect with our friends on social media.
Develop “Prayer Pointers” that remind you to connect with God. For example, let brushing your teeth each morning remind you to pray that God might give you pleasing words during the day. Use washing your face as a pointer for praying God would give you a cheerful countenance. When you hear a siren, pray for those in need. Set reminders on your phone that remind you to pray for specific things at particular times.
In the Spirit…
Praying “in the Spirit” means surrendering our will to God’s. James reminds us that we “ask and do not receive” because we ask with selfish motives – wanting our will and not God’s. Praying in the Spirit means trusting that God’s answer is best. It might be yes, but it could be no, or wait. Believe God is for you!
With All Prayer and Supplication…
All means all – everything and anything, with no limits, no exclusions, the entire gamut, the whole enchilada.
There is nothing too small or too big to be prayed for. In Scripture we are reminded to pray when we are thankful (2 Corinthians 1:11, Philippians 1:3), when we need to confess (James 5:16), when we need forgiveness (Mark 11:25), for food (Luke 11:3), for faith (Luke 22:32), for other people (John 17:19), for relief from suffering (James 5:13), when we are sick (James 5:14), when we are in danger (Matthew 24:20, Acts 27:29), when we are tempted (Matthew 26:41), when we are in public occasions (Acts 12:15), for spiritual wisdom (Ephesians 1:17), for rain (James 5:18), for our children (Luke 1:13), for health and prosperity (3 John 1:2), and for spiritual strength (Matthew 26:41).
Keep Alert…
We should expect God to answer our prayers! Keep a prayer journal full of the things you have been praying for and when God answers (even if it is not what you were hoping or expecting) write it down! Use answered prayers as a means of encouragement during times when it doesn’t seem God is coming through.
With Perseverance…
Prayer is a habit we can fall in and out of. Paul reminds us to pray with perseverance. Don’t stop! Keep praying!
Making supplication for all the saints…
Not the New Orleans football team. If you are going to pray for any team, please pray for the Dallas Cowboys - they need it! Pray on behalf of others. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do for a person is pray for them. How we pray for others is less important that that we pray for them.
Overcome everything with prayer!
Ryan Smallwood
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