在面臨屬靈爭戰時，基督徒應認真地看待禱告。然而，一位佛羅里達州的女士卻發現，以不明智的方式禱告有多危險。她通常在禱告時，都會閉上雙眼。但有一天，她一邊開車，一邊禱告（閉上雙眼！），結果她沒有在停車標誌前停下來，反而飛快地穿過十字路口，偏離道路，並衝入別人家的院子裡。隨後，她嘗試將車倒退駛出草坪，卻沒有成功。雖然沒有造成任何傷亡，但她卻因魯莽駕駛，以及損壞別人的房屋，收到警方發出的傳票。這位禱告勇士忽略以弗所書6章18節的關鍵信息：警醒。

在以弗所書第6章，使徒保羅講述上帝所賜的全副軍裝，最後還提到兩項裝備。首先，我們必須藉著禱告來打屬靈的戰爭。意思是要靠著聖靈禱告，倚靠祂的能力，並且順服祂的帶領和回應祂的提醒，隨時多方禱告和祈求（18節）。其次，保羅鼓勵我們要「警醒」。警醒禱告能幫助我們為耶穌的再來作好準備（馬可福音13章33節），勝過試探（14章38節），並為其他信徒代求（以弗所書6章18節）。

每天，我們都會面對屬靈的戰爭，讓我們將「警醒禱告」融入生活中，積極對抗邪惡的勢力，好讓基督的光衝破黑暗。

When fighting spiritual battles, believers in Jesus should take prayer seriously. A Florida woman found out how dangerous it can be, however, to practice it unwisely. When she prayed, she closed her eyes. But while driving one day and praying (with eyes shut!), she failed to stop at a stop sign, flew through an intersection, and went offroad into a homeowner’s yard. She then tried unsuccessfully to back off the lawn. Though not injured, she was given a police citation for reckless driving and property damage. This prayer warrior missed a key part of Ephesians 6:18: be alert.

As part of the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul includes two final pieces. First, we should fight spiritual battles with prayer. This means praying in the Spirit—relying on His power. Also, resting in His guidance and responding to His promptings—praying all kinds of prayers on all occasions (v. 18). Second, Paul encouraged us to “be alert.” Spiritual alertness can aid us in being prepared for Jesus’ return (Mark 13:33), gaining victory over temptation (14:38), and interceding for other believers (Ephesians 6:18).

As we fight spiritual battles daily, let’s permeate our lives with a “pray and watch” approach—combating evil powers and piercing the darkness with the light of Christ.