Only when I pray is a short series of thought-provoking reflections based loosely around the theme of prayer as found in Luke 11:1-13.

Today’s reading is a long one so you just have one translation here, but please refer to your own preferred translation also - Ephesians 6:10-18.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Wear the full armour of God. Wear God’s armour so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to get God’s full armour. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So, stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist. And on your chest wear the protection [breastplate] of right living. And on your feet wear the Good News [shoes/boots] of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith. With that you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation to be your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. [Never give up]. Always pray for all God’s people. The International Children’s Bible (a beautifully worded, simple Bible translation – look it up some time)

It is primarily the last part of this scripture passage that we will focus on today. The King James Version uses the word [perseverance]. The Living Bible says [keep praying earnestly]. The Message says [prayer is essential] - [pray hard and long]. The NIV says [keep on praying]. The New Living Translation uses the phrase [be persistent]. They all mean the same thing of course, but it is the word persistence that I chose when writing the song we will use today.

Listen to the song now, Power in persistence.

Here’s a clue about the final 3 reflections following after today’s – they are all about persistence. Persistence in asking (and receiving), looking (and finding) and knocking (with doors opening). At the end of the passage we’ve been referring to in Luke 11:1-13 Jesus emphasises the need to persist in prayer more than any other point. It is such an important factor that He gives several illustrations of how and why we should persist from verse 5 through to 13.

Today’s supplementary reading from Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us why we need to pray relentlessly, continually, earnestly, perseveringly and persistently – it’s because we have a fight on our hands and that is why we need to dress ourselves, daily, in the Armour of God. Prayer, in an imaginative sense, can be likened to a lubricant that keeps the armour in pristine condition. And that is why we must persist in prayer – rusty armour is ineffective.

Jesus also reminds us in Luke 11:11-13 that God knows precisely what we need while we pray. The illustration of a human father who would not give his son a stone when the boy asks for a fish, nor a scorpion when he asks for an egg (Living Bible terminologies) drives home the point that God, our (one) all loving Father knows exactly what we need.

Jesus said, “And if even sinful persons like yourselves give [your] children what they need, don’t you realise that your heavenly Father will do at least as much and give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for Him? Living Bible

There is power in persistence. Jesus has illustrated that fact; who are we to doubt it, ignore it or choose to pray any other way – like we know better – other than pray continually and with persistence?

Today’s song raises the points that when it comes to prayer we shouldn’t; let it go, shake it off, change the subject or be redirected. Neither should we give an inch, surrender, procrastinate or walk away – and, most critically, we should never, ever let our purpose (our reason for praying) be neglected because that opens up the potential for failure.

Our quiet time or prayer time (or whatever we call it) may, as I said on the first day, meet with some resistance and/or distraction. In the Screwtape Letters1, one of C.S Lewis’s most fascinating books on the subject of Christian Apologetics, the character Screwtape is a senior devil/demon (the mentor) who is writing letters to his nephew, Wormwood (the apprentice demon), with advice about how to secure the damnation of one man’s soul. In one startling piece of advice Screwtape advises distraction as a tactic to be deployed when the man turns each time to prayer – i.e. that Wormwood should use any means of distraction to keep the man from communication with his Creator.

I think this serves as a good reminder of why we need to wear well-lubricated effective armour and to be persistent (and not distracted) in prayer as we deliberately put each piece on every day.

May our prayer life become even more vibrant and fruitful where it is already a healthy habit – or may it quickly become distraction free the more we persist, while reenergising our prayer life as we come to realise there is indeed Power in persistence. Jesus said so!

  1. The Screwtape Letters is a must-read for Christians. Note to self: maybe I should read it again! ↩