September 17, 2023 | Doug Sauder
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“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”—Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
With lifestyle influencers on nearly every social media platform, the word “lifestyle” carries much more weight in today’s society. From travel blogs to health and fitness channels to fashion pages, these “lifestyles” seem to encompass one’s passion and purpose. In view of this, let’s revisit the title of today’s devotional: Prayer as a Lifestyle.
Although today’s scripture tends to be overlooked, it contains a vital message relating to the spiritual warfare Paul writes about beforehand. After urging his audience to equip themselves with the armor of God, he implores them to pray consistently. Some believe that prayer itself is another piece of the armor! As Priscilla Shirer wrote in her Bible study: The Armor of God, “Prayer is the mechanism that brings down the power of heaven into your experience. It is the divinely authorized method that activates your spiritual armor and makes it effective.”
Essentially, Paul was telling his readers that prayer should be a lifestyle! In one verse, he emphasizes the following 4 elements of a prayerful life:
Therefore, may we strive to live a lifestyle of prayer because it is only when we acknowledge prayer’s power, understand its necessity, and value it as a gift from our gracious Father, that we will be able to draw closer to him and truly live in our God-given purpose.
Samy Rodriguez has been serving with the Calvary writing team since 2020 as a senior at Calvary Christian Academy. Before going to study communications, biblical studies, and intercultural studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University, she interned with the Calvary Communications Team and was a student leader in HSM (High School Ministry). She is passionate about communicating God’s Word and looks forward to continuing to serve in ministry after college.