February 25 2026

Wednesday February 25

The Word of God, Prayer and Faith

Ephesians 6:17

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Today we are continuing our study of Ephesians 6:17. We are discovering that when we take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, we are able—through the whole armor of God—to stand against the wiles of the devil, against temptations, trials, tribulations, hardships, and the many challenges we face in life. It is all because we have put on the whole armor of God. Now we are not only holding up the shield of faith, but we are also taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We have already said many things about this but today is especially important as we talk about the Word of God and prayer—the Word of God and prayer.

You cannot separate the Word of God from prayer. If you are praying as you should, you will be reading the Word of God as you should. You will be in the Word, and the Word will be living in you. If you are not in the Word, you will not be praying as you should. There is another very important truth: you must pray in faith. So we have faith, the Word, and prayer. These three are interdependent upon each other. You will not continue to do what you ought to do in any one of them without the others.

I love what Mark 11:22–24 says: “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’” They go together. If you want power in prayer, pray the Word. If you want boldness in prayer, pray the promises of God.

I want to encourage you—if you have never read it before—you can find it on Amazon: Faith’s Checkbook by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is available as a daily one-minute devotional book. I encourage you to get it. I used it for years, and I continue to use it. It contains 365 promises that you “cash in.” It is like a checkbook—you take that promise, make it yours, and pray it back to God. When you pray the promises of God, it gives you boldness. God has made many promises. Pray those promises.

If you want clarity in prayer, pray the Scriptures. One of the best books I still use every day—and I have given it to hundreds of people—is The Power of Prayer, a little one-minute devotional by E. M. Bounds. It is like a catalyst. It is like priming the pump. You read it, and you are motivated and encouraged to pray.

Just yesterday’s February 24th reading was based on Romans 12:12: “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Prayer and God’s promises are interdependent. The promises inspire and energize prayer, but prayer isolates and locates the promise, giving it realization and application. I love this illustration: The promise is like blessed rain falling in full showers, but prayer is like the pipes that direct the rain—focusing these promises until they become direct and personal, until they bless, refresh, and fertilize.

Prayer takes hold of the promise and guides it to its marvelous end. It removes the obstacles and makes a highway for the promise to reach its glorious fulfillment.

There is always a little prayer at the end: “Dear Lord God, thank You for Your promises. Thank You that our earnest prayers can put Your promises to bless and refresh in action. I praise Your name. Amen.”

So I want to encourage you today and understand that when you pray God’s Word back to Him, you are praying according to His will. Because 1 John 5:14 says: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Oh, the precious promises, the Word of God, and prayer—this is the sword of the Spirit. My friend, it energizes. It carries prayers to the place where they are needed in the lives of people.

Men like Andrew Murray wrote books such as, “With Christ in the School of Prayer”. Get hold of those books. Read them—but more importantly, pray as you read them. Listen to what God is saying to you. Be encouraged today to take up the shield of faith, to hold up the sword of the Spirit, and to pray always.

God bless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.