Literally, “praying in every season,” or “on every occasion.” Compare the injunction to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Prayer is not another weapon; rather, it is the spirit, the manner, in which the whole armor is to be worn and the battle fought. Paul is here urging it as a perpetual state of mind, a continuous attitude of communion with God (see Luke 18:1; Phil. 4:6; Heb. 4:16).

 These two words also occur together in Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1; 5:5 In Phil. 4:6, thanksgiving as well as supplication is added to prayer. Gratitude and intercession are two most important elements in prevailing prayer.

 See on Rom. 8:26, 27. Even though we have the best of intentions, our prayers often reveal our poor judgment, hidden prejudices, and sheer ignorance of what is best for us. There are few who cannot look back and thank God that the Holy Spirit revised their prayers, as it were; noted the intention, and presented them to God in such a form that He could answer them. How often has time revealed to us the utter foolishness of some of our praying, and how grateful we are that we never received some things we asked for!

 See on Matt. 24:42; cf. ch. 26:41.

 Literally, “concerning all the saints.” The saints are to be mutually supported by prayer and fellowship. It is impossible for one to be “in Christ” (see on ch. 1:1) without sharing the common sufferings of the saints and holding them up in prayer (see 1 Peter 5:9). Possibly the aging apostle, in bonds in Rome, thinks with more urgency on the communion of the saints in view of the request he is about to make Eph. 6:19).

 Perseverance in prayer is not for the purpose, by sheer persistence, of making God change His mind, in some such fashion as a begging child finally extracts what he wants from an unwilling parent. Perseverance in prayer, however, clearly indicates on the part of the suppliant a state of mind that gives God an opportunity to do things He could not safely do for him otherwise (see on Luke 18:1-8).