What Does Ephesians 6:18 mean? Praying at all times “in the Spirit”

Day 19

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints"  

Ephesians 6:18-19

My Prayer

Yahweh, my Heavenly Father, thank You for this scripture.^Y I praise You for the power that is in it and thank You for what You will do through it (Isaiah 55:11). Please reveal its meaning to our minds (Psalm 119:18). For all who read here, please lead them to pray this page with me...

My Father, this scripture tells us to pray "at all times". Other scriptures tell us to pray continually, always, in everything, and without ceasing.^4.12 You have shown me that pervasive, scriptural prayer is the essence of walking by the Spirit.

I have found mention of praying "in the Spirit" in only two places in all of Your scriptures (Ephesians 6:18 and Jude 1:20). Neither verse defines praying "in the Spirit". So, I have explored Your teaching about prayer and the Holy Spirit to gain an understanding of "praying in the Spirit". As I explored Your word, I see so many facets to praying in the Spirit that it is hard to comprehend.

From Your word, I see that:

Praying in the Spirit is... entering into Your presence by faith, humbling ourselves as Your child, hearing and obeying by Your power, no matter what the cost.

Being "in the Spirit" is not necessarily continuous (Revelation 1:10, 4:2, Acts 19:21). Walking by the Spirit is volitional and is contrasted with the carrying out the desire of the flesh in Galatians 5:16. So, being "in the Spirit" may vacillate in respect to our state of fellowship with You at any given time. We may not be "in the Spirit" because of a break in fellowship.^2.7

Father, there are three teachings in Your word that helped me to understand what it means to "pray in the Spirit":

• walking by the Spirit
• fellowship with You
• the works of Your Holy Spirit

We walk by the Spirit as we hear you in prayer and obey you in prayer.^4.7

Fellowship with You is a two way conversation in the spiritual realm, as we follow Christ, bearing His yoke in the world.^1.4

Your Holy Spirit is so active in our lives!

As we pray, Your Holy Spirit teaches us, reminds us of scripture, leads, warns, intercedes, gives us the words to present the Gospel and speaks to us through our conscience.^3.3 Lord, give us ears to hear You!

After we have heard Your Holy Spirit, He provides power to hope, comprehend, witness, guard the Gospel and do combat in the spiritual realm .^3.4 Lord, give us power to obey You!

As we pray, hear and obey, Your Holy Spirit brings joy, peace and true confession. He distributes spiritual gifts according to His will. His indwelling presence is a gift in itself. He is a conduit for gifts of Your love.^3.5

Praying in the Spirit is... entering into Your presence by faith, humbling ourselves as Your child, hearing and obeying by Your power, no matter what the cost.

You have taught me that every factor must be present. 

Only Your child can pray In the Spirit because only Your children have Your Holy Spirit. Greatness in the kingdom comes in this way: "Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:4). 

To pray in the Spirit we must:

• have faith (Hebrews 11:6) 
• have unlimited obedience (Luke 14:26,27,33)
• trust You to grant hearing and obedience^4.7

"If anyone comes to me, and doesn't disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple" (Luke 14:26)

Thank You for revealing the way:

Praying in the Spirit is... entering into Your presence by faith, humbling ourselves as Your child, hearing and obeying by Your power, no matter what the cost.

My Father, You know that some wish to pray "in the Spirit" but with only limited obedience. They don't want to make disciples even though it's easy.^2.3 I pray for them as I have prayed for my self. Please open their eyes.  If this can be done gently, then please do it gently. If it must come by fire, then bring fire^2.7(Revelation 3:18). All praise to Your name!

Heavenly Father, some say that praying in the Spirit is the same thing as praying in tongues. You have told us: All Christians are to "pray in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:20), but all Christians cannot speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28-30). So, praying "in the Spirit" can not be speaking in tongues.

Others have then taught that speaking in tongues is different from praying in tongues. But Your word teaches that Speaking in tongues is praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2).

So, You have revealed that praying "in the Spirit" is not praying in tongues.

Thank You for teaching me that:

Praying in the Spirit is... entering into Your presence by faith, humbling ourselves as Your child, hearing and obeying by Your power, no matter what the cost.

In this passage, Ephesians 6:18, You revealed just one of the many aspects of scriptural prayer... You have revealed how to "pray in the Spirit"! Thank you for revealing this in Your word! For, how can we walk by the Spirit, if we don't know what to pray?

Heavenly Father, teach us the prayers that scripture has taught us to pray. By Your Spirit, lead Your children to click this link: "How to Pray: Introduction to the Endorsed Prayers".

You deserve all praise!

Amen.

Additional Information

Click any gold colored superscript (^H) in the text for more information. A superscript like ^4.3f will open subchapter 4.3. Click  ^4.3f. Then look down the page for 4.3f.

About this Devotional

You are reading the Walk by the Spirit Daily Devotional Series, which is subchapter 3.7 of the free, online book Fellowship with God in the Sixth Path.  In the Walk by the Spirit Daily Devotional, readers learn how to how to walk by the Spirit. Walking by the Spirit is one way the New Testament describes fellowship with God, the subject of this online book. 

Fellowship with God in the New Covenant is defined as, "a two way conversation in the spiritual realm, as we follow Christ, bearing His yoke in the world". The area below the white section on this page will reveal every word and phrase in that definition, from the scriptures.

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