#1503. Put On The Armour And Pray (27/4/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God.

The true test of our putting on the full armour of God is how we pray. 

To watch this devotional, please select the link below:

1. Put on God’s armour and pray

This phrase—‘And pray in the Spirit…’—is closely connected to what Paul has just been teaching about putting on the full armour of God. Prayer is not separate from the armour; it is the expression of a life that is wearing it.

The third verse of the hymn Stand Up, Stand Up, For Jesus puts it beautifully:

There’s no point in putting on the armour of God if we are not going to engage in the battle. The armour is not ornamental—it is for action. We put it on so that we can stand firm, serve actively, and pray effectively in the Spirit.

Each piece of the armour not only protects us but also strengthens and shapes our prayer life:

• Belt of truth – Knowing and believing the truth of Scripture grounds our prayers in reality.

• Breastplate of righteousness – Confidence in our righteousness in Christ, and a commitment to righteous living, gives boldness in prayer.

• Gospel shoes – The peace of the gospel frees us to pray, and the mission of sharing it drives us to prayer.

• Shield of faith – Trusting God in the midst of attack leads us to depend on Him in prayer.

• Helmet of salvation – A mind filled with the hope of salvation lifts us into worship and prayer.

• Sword of the Spirit – Using Scripture, led by the Spirit, not only counters lies but also shapes and fuels our prayers.

So, we see that the full armour of God leads us into prayer and enables us to stand strong in the battle.

Response

• The way we pray is a key indicator of the health of our Christian lives and our churches.

• Passivity and a lax approach to prayer reveal a poor understanding of our vulnerability and the enemy’s schemes.

• Fearful and anxious prayers can reveal a limited grasp of God’s character and resources.

• But putting on the full armour of God, and praying in the Spirit, reflects growing spiritual health.

This week, let’s reflect more deeply on what it means to pray in the Spirit in every situation.

Community Group Study

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

Something that builds relationships and confidence to share; it’s good to regularly use this moment to ask the group: How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we continued our new series entitled: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

Our message was on the theme of, Pray In The Spirit. 

Please read Ephesians 6:18-20 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – From Sunday’s message and this passage, what stood out to you? Was there anything the Spirit particularly impressed on your heart?

• The armour of God - What link is there between putting on the armour of God and prayer?

•  Pray in the Spirit - What are the various things that are meant by ‘Pray in the Spirit’?

• All kinds of prayer - What are the various kinds of prayer that the Spirit leads us into?

• Response - How do you think you’d like to grow in ‘praying in the Spirit’? 

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• Prayer leads to power -  From our text, what do we learn about the need for prayer in mission? 

• Sharing Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.

• Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation?

Let’s Pray Together

Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.

• Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.

• General prayer: From our study, or from personal needs, how do people want prayer?