From the Word: Put On the Armor… and Pray!

Over the past several weeks, we have been working our way through the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. We began with an overview of why we need this armor, then examined each piece individually: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and finally, the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. But as we reach the end of this passage, we must not overlook Paul’s final instruction. After telling us to put on the full armor of God and stand firm against the schemes of the devil, he tells us to pray!

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:18 (ESV), “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Prayer is not something we do only when we are in trouble or when we have exhausted every other option. It is an essential part of our daily walk with Christ and our ongoing battle against the forces of darkness. We are called to pray at all times, in the Spirit, remaining watchful and persistent. And our prayers are not to be focused exclusively on ourselves. We are to pray for one another, lifting up our brothers and sisters in Christ as we stand together in the faith.

But Paul takes this even further. In verses 19–20, he asks the believers to pray for him, too—not that his circumstances would improve or that his enemies would disappear, but that God would give him the words and boldness to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. Even while writing as a prisoner, Paul’s concern was that he would faithfully make Christ known. This is a powerful reminder of the purpose behind the armor. We are not simply trying to survive in a hostile world or protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. We are called to stand firm in Christ, advance the truth of His Word, and make the good news of salvation known to a world that desperately needs Him. We need God’s armor to stand against the enemy, and we need God’s help to boldly share the gospel.

So, as we conclude this study, let’s remember that the Christian life is not meat to be a passive one. Put on the full armor of God. Stand firm in the truth. Hold tightly to your faith. Guard your mind with the hope of salvation. Take up the Word of God. And pray! Pray continually. Pray for one another. Pray for opportunities to share your faith, and pray for the boldness to speak when those opportunities come. The battle is real, but so is our God. May we be faithful to stand firm in Him—and faithful to make Him known!