Hold the Sword of the Spirit and Pray in the Spirit

March 17, 2013 - Ephesians 6:17-20

6:17		並 戴 上 救 恩 的 頭 盔 、 拿 著 聖 靈 的 寶 劍 、 就 是 　 神 的 道 ．
6:18		靠 著 聖 靈 、 隨 時 多 方 禱 告 祈 求 、 並 要 在 此 儆 醒 不 倦 、 為 眾 聖 徒 祈 求 、
6:19		也 為 我 祈 求 、 使 我 得 著 口 才 、 能 以 放 膽 、 開 口 講 明 福 音 的 奧 秘 、
6:20		（ 我 為 這 福 音 的 奧 秘 、 作 了 帶 鎖 鍊 的 使 者 ） 並 使 我 照 著 當 盡 的 本 分 、 放 膽 講 論 。

 ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

   ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The Lord has given us the most precious gifts to stand firm in spiritual warfare, the Holy Spirit and the word of God. Paul calls it the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Paul also exhorts believers to pray in the Spirit (immersing in the Spirit) - on all occasions; for all the Lord's people; for the missions workers that they fearlessly proclaim the gospel. Holding firmly the word of God and praying earnestly in the Spirit are the way of building up the strength of our spiritual lives for being the soldiers of God.

My dear Holy Spirit, I submit myself to You again today. Continue to cultivate a spirit of sensitivity in my heart that I respond actively to Your voice and miracles (works from You) You perform around me. I thank for Your continual transforming of my inner soul - my mind for perceiving You, my will for submitting to You, and my desire for experiencing You, and also thank for Your people whom You led close to me and spoke Your words to me. An experienced pastor prayed for me, "May God renew you first before you are sent to bless the others." I pray that these words will be fulfilled in my life according to Your Grace and Work in me.