“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching hereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” – Ephesians 6:18
LIGHT FOR NOW: Prayer is an activity to be carried out by man on earth; hence, it is an activity for men carried out on earth.
In our key text above, we see Paul using the term “prayer” and “supplication”. Let’s see other places in the scripture where this term “prayer and supplication” was used. Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus”; Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”.
Now, a vital question to ask is; were Paul and Luke (the writer of the book of Acts) separating supplication as an activity different from prayer? To answer this question, we need to understand the connecting word “and” as it provides the answer.
The word “and” used by both authors was translated from the Greek word “kai”. The word “kai” is either used as conjunctive or explanatory, depending on the context where it is used. When it is conjunctive, it is used as a separator for two or more objects or subjects. In their contexts of usage (that is, Luke and Paul), it was however used explanatorily, thus the phrase can be better understood as “…prayer which is (or that is) supplication…” In other words, one word explains the other – Prayer is supplication and supplication is prayer.
That is why the word prayer, which was translated from the Greek word “deesis” (often in scriptures), is the same word where the word supplication was translated from. The use of the word “supplication” in Ephesians 6:18, Acts 1:14 and Philippians 4:6 were all translated from the Greek word “deesis” which is the same Greek word in which prayer was majorly translated from. The word “deesis” means a fixed petition. It is not frivolous in its claims or demands. With this understanding above, we can deduce a definition for prayer. Prayer is an activity (carried out in reverence) by man to God; it involves verbalizing our desires (requests or fixed petitions) unto God (our father). Prayer, therefore, is an earthly activity. It is an activity for men. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Pray!!!
CONFESSION: I am given to prayer regularly, always and at all times, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
QUOTE: Prayer is not for God to do for you. It is for you to do for yourself as you commune with God.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5; EVENING: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 