Be Persistent

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (6:18)

The second part of this injunction regarding prayer for assisting fellow believers in their spiritual struggles and battles is to be persistent. Stay alert, and stay at it.

This is consistent with the various commands and directives in this passage, as Paul implores the Ephesians to be persistent in their praying. Persistence is not to be forgotten, neglected, or taken for granted.

I just saw a video clip of a famous college football coach telling his team to keep going and performing even when they get tired. They might want to lay down, turn down their body-motors, or just quit. The coach implores them to continue on their mission and the team’s plan for success even when tired. And he tells them in advance, warning them of this possibility. He prepares them for what is most likely ahead—they will get tired and feel like giving up.

How many of us can relate to this in our spiritual walks? We are faced with any or multiple ones of the following thought processes:

“I’m lonely on this journey, one that no one else is in, nor understands. Not sure I can go on, since especially, like Elijah, I’m the only who hasn’t bowed the knee to Baal.”

“I admit I am tired. Not sure I have the strength or energy, and I’m losing my resolve.”

“I am unproductive spiritually, not helping anyone. I can’t even help myself! Why should I think I can help others to stand firm, and be strong? Probably time to just go to the sidelines and watch, rather than participate.”

“I am not gifted for this battle. I thought I was at one time, but that must have been a prideful delusion or the result of youthful, blind exuberance. We will probably all be better off if I just leave the spiritual fighting to the spiritual giants who know what they are doing. I’ll just get injured (or worse) if I keep fighting.”

“I need to face the reality that I am afraid. Afraid that I will lose. That I will fall down in the battle and not get back up. I’m afraid that God’s people will be overcome. That I will find out that Satan is a lot stronger than we think he is. I guess I just need to find a safe place. And I know that safe place sure isn’t in a spiritual war zone.”

And so on. (Maybe one comes to mind as you read these, prompting you to finger one of your reasons for embracing the temptation to not press on.) What to do? How do we persevere in our praying as part of this spiritual skirmish?

Two things come to mind in response. One is to remember that just before this verse, Paul calls us to “pray in the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit of God is the one who gives us the reason to fight, the energy to do so, and the promised victory in the end. Paul is not telling us to persevere in prayer on our own, or by our own strength. Or just figure it out, somehow. The alert, persevering prayer is led by God. He’s equipping us for the prayer position in our fight.

Secondly, we are called to stay alert and persevere in prayer “for all believers everywhere.” This fight is not just about us and our personal struggles and our personal world caving in around us. He gives us a global call. He bases this call to persevere on a reminder that we are connected to the world-wide body of believers, and we don’t just need each other (which we do) but we depend on each other.

I once heard prophetic preacher Leonard Ravenhill challenge his audience, “When is the last time you prayed for those believers in prison in communist countries, like (at the time) the Soviet Union or China? During the last week? The last month?!”

I still hear those words ringing in my memory. It’s another angle on the importance of persevering prayer. That word from the preacher stirred me to remember in prayer those who are suffering for Jesus, and for their participation in the Good News. And there are others, those who are facing despair, discouragement, health issues, effects of hidden sin, complications from ministry decisions, lack of resources. They need us to stand with them in persevering prayer.

Be encouraged! The one who calls us to persevere equips us to do so. We need to let God do that work in us.

“Father, may we not lose heart, grow weary, and give up, but press on to serve you and your body in this ministry of prayer. We hear the call today to stand firm in prayer. Thank you for your encouragement to do so, even when we think we can’t continue. Holy Spirit, we need you!”