The Four “Alls”

If the effectiveness of our spiritual warfare depends not just on wearing the six pieces of armor (Eph 6:14-17), but also on constant, believing prayer, then we must ask ourselves: What can we do to make our prayer lives more effective?

The place given to prayer in both the Old and New Testaments is remarkable. All the great saints of the Old Testament knew how to pray—Abraham, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, to mention just a few. The same prowess in prayer can be seen also in the New Testament saints.

But of course the greatest Person of prayer was none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Although He possessed great knowledge and wisdom, He found it essential to turn aside time and time again to pray. On certain occasions He would spend whole nights in prayer or rise long before dawn in order to pray and maintain His communion with God.

Is it surprising, therefore, that being so dependent on prayer, He should have told His disciples: “Pray always and [do] not become discouraged” (Lk 18:1). Praying is the only alternative to fainting—we must pray or else we faint.

Paul’s teaching with regard to prayer in Ephesians 6:18 revolves around four “alls.” We are to pray at all times, with all prayer, with all perseverance, and for all the saints. Most Christians, however, pray at some times, with some prayer, and some degree of perseverance for some of God’s saints.

When we replace “some” by “all” in these expressions, we are on our way to effective praying.

Further Study

1Sm 1:27; 7:1-10; Ex 15:24-25; 1Kings 18:37-38; Mt 14:23

List some prayers God answered.

List some answers to prayer you have received.