<p>6:18- see on Lk. 12:37.</p><p><i>With all prayer and petition, praying at all times in the Spirit; and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints</i>- &quot;At all times&quot; is really 'on every occasion'. Every occasion of temptation or testing is to be met by prayer; and we are not to simply pray for ourselves, but for others as we observe them in times of crisis. This suggests that spiritual strengthening is partly dependent upon the prayers of third parties for us. This is the reason for fellowship with other believers, opening up to others our spiritual needs. And it is why we should be continually in prayer for others- for we can play a role in their eternal salvation, just as they can in ours. Paul has listed six items in the defensive armour of the spiritual warrior; prayer is the seventh. This is the ultimate and completing weapon we are to use in withstanding temptation and the day of trial. &quot;Prayer and petition&quot; are hard to define separately; the sense may be that &quot;prayer&quot; is more general, and &quot;petition&quot; refers to specific supplication in time of specific need. Prayer &quot;in the Spirit&quot; surely connects with how the same phrase has been used earlier, of how &quot;in Christ&quot; we are the temple of God and are indwelt by His Spirit. If the promised Spirit of God dwells in us, then we are &quot;in the Spirit&quot; (Rom. 8:9). So the idea would be that those who are aware of the indwelling of the Spirit and live &quot;in the Spirit&quot; will pray &quot;in the Spirit&quot;, in that same atmosphere, for the Spirit to provide the spiritual defence against temptation which the previous verses have offered. We are to pray whilst being alert / awake, in the spirit of the disciples in Gethsemane, indeed, in the spirit of the Lord Jesus praying there; see on Mt. 26:41. For He there was surely praying for us; and we with His Spirit are to pray for the spiritual perseverance of others in time of trial. This was exactly what the Lord was praying for in Gethsemane, whilst the disciples slept.</p>