Pray Without Ceasing!

How often do most people pray? Do we pray weekly at church, when a crisis rears its ugly head, or maybe daily? The bible tells us to pray continually! We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to“pray without ceasing”. In other versions it says “pray continually”, “pray constantly” and “never stop praying”.

Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray on all occassions with all kinds of requests, to be alert and always keep praying. We are told that all the disciples prayed constantly in Acts 1 and Philippians 4:6, one of my favorite verses, emplores us not to be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present our requests to God! And Romans 8:26 tells us if we are weak and do not know what to pray, the Spirit HIMSELF will pray for us. He understands our groans.

I found so many that there is not time nor space to write all the scripture here that pertained to prayer.

So because of all the scripture that makes it abundantly clear that prayer is important, if not vital to a relationship with the Lord, I thought it was definitely worth considering. Is having my prayer time in the morning not enough? According to scripture, our prayers are to be continual even after we rise from our knees in the morning. More than morning and night, more than Sunday or even Wednesday night prayer meeting we are to carry on a conversation as if He were right beside you. For He is but a breath away He lives within us.

If you thought He was that close;

Would you praise Him for the smell of fresh cut grass, the perfection of a rose or the coo of a mourning dove?

Would you whisper a quick thank you at hearing a child giggle or praise him for the softness of a baby's face?

Would you raise your hand in gratitude for the cool breeze on a hot summer day or the smell of rain in the air?

Would you share with Him how thrilled you were to hear your grandbaby call you Gramma?

Would you ask him what he thought of the rudeness of the waitress and would you feel checked to pray for her?

Would you praise him for the way a cool drink of water quinches your thirst or how homemade ice cream delightfully slides down your throat giving you a “brain freeze”?

Would you thank him for the love you felt when you heard your husbands voice? And praise Him for your years together?

Would you breath in the Word of God like it was an expensive perfume and quietly say with tears in your eyes, “Thank you precious Lord”?

Would you lift up that child you passed on the street with the ragged clothes and mussed up hair? Would you pray for his soul?

Would you ask God to comfort the old man who rambles the halls of the nursing home mumbling to himself?

Would you pray for your enemies?

We must learn to talk with Him continually as if He were a breath away because He is! It might take practice but start today!

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! 1 Thessalonians 5:17