1. The Importance of Prayer
In the 6th chapter of Ephesians in the 18th verse we read words which put the tremendous
importance of prayer with startling and overwhelming force:
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
When we stop to weigh the meaning of these words, then note the connection in which
they are found, the intelligent child of God is driven to say,
“I must pray, pray, pray. I must put all my energy and all my heart into prayer. Whatever
else I do, I must pray.”
The Revised Version is, if possible, stronger than the Authorized:
“With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the spirit, and watching
thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
Note the ALLS: “with ALL prayer,” “at ALL seasons,” “in ALL perseverance,” “for ALL
the saints.” Note the piling up of strong words, “prayer,” “supplication,” “perseverance.”
Note once more the strong expression, “watching thereunto,” more literally, “being
sleepless thereunto.” Paul realized the natural slothfulness of man, and especially his
natural slothfulness in prayer. How seldom we pray things through! How often the church
and the individual get right up to the verge of a great blessing in prayer and just then let
go, get drowsy, quit. I wish that these words “being sleepless unto prayer” might burn into
our hearts. I wish the whole verse might burn into our hearts.