Vital Signs: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Becoming a Prayer Warrior

Before worship one Sunday, I saw a devout Christian man staring at his Bible app, which was open to Luke 11, where Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer. He was studying God’s Word on prayer before going to church to hear God’s Word and pray. But he confessed, “I’ve never been good at prayer.”

I replied, “Yup.” I’ve always prayed but have never been a true prayer warrior. In fact, I haven’t even been the intern of the backup of the second cousin who walks the dog of the prayer warrior’s brother. I’ve got a long way to go.

You too? Maybe you’re amazing at talking to God, or maybe you’re like most of us—you pray when there’s a big tragedy or when your kid goes off to college. But are you a prayer warrior who prays first, last, and in between?

Despite our spotty prayer pasts, the apostle Paul invites us to become prayer warriors. In his famous section on spiritual warfare, 30% of his words are about prayer. He writes, “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” (Ephesians 6:18).

The grace of Jesus not only forgives us for the past but also invites us to talk to God in the present, asking Him to equip us for today’s spiritual battles. Talk to your Father. Ask Him to train you in the art of prayer. Take one small step closer to becoming a true prayer warrior.