THURSDAY - October 22

Read. Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. 11 Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. 12 We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. 13 Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. 14 So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, 15 and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. 16 Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

18 Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. 19 As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan[a] of the gospel known. 20 I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say.

Reflect. We might think the letter to the Ephesians, written from a prison cell (cf. Ephesians 3:1), would call the Romans the great force opposing Christians. But the apostle Paul’s vision was far more cosmic. “We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens,” he wrote. He used the image of soldier’s armor, but the actual spiritual armor he used came into view in verse 18: “Offer prayers ... all the time.”
• To the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time.” To Christians in Thessalonica, he wrote, “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But Paul clearly led a very active life—he didn’t kneel by his bed all day, every day. What have you found that helps you to go through even busy days in a spirit and attitude of prayer? What value do you see in nurturing a continual connection with God?

• What do you make of Paul’s words (which fit well into Roman, Greek and Hebrew views of the universe) about “rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens”? Do you see video beheadings, deceitful invasions and police shootings as just expressions of “human cussedness,” or does there seem to be something bigger and darker at work against God’s kingdom? In what ways do you need spiritual armor to keep you “strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength”?

Pray. Lord Jesus, at the moments when the darkness of this world seems overwhelming, remind me that your light is greater than the darkness. I pray for your spiritual power to guard me, and fill me with your light. Amen.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug Lawson. Collier. Glenn Ethridge. Adam Funderburk.  Mary Reber.  Linda Harmon. Betty Carolyn Ward. Albert Rasanke. Lois Robinson. Ross Henley. Tiny & Donald Creasman. Bill and Barbara Buchanan. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeff Green. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr family. Smith family. Crowder family. Lillard family. Family of Floyd Eaton. Family of Eddie Rynes. Robertson Family. Harmon Family. Nancy Ryan & family. Bobby Roberts. Elizabeth May & family. Melvin Rinehart. Susan Rogers. Brandon Haugh. Sonny Bulloch. Bobby and Joyce Reed. Jerry Plaster. Julie.


Acknowledgement:
Our current teaching series, The Power of Words, was adapted from a series developed by our partners at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and used with permission. Many of the resources and graphics are provided by our partners. During this series, our Read.Reflect.Pray. guide publishes the daily devotional guide (called Grow, Pray, Study) from our partners with minor adaptation.