Learning DAILY

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17, pray without ceasing,

 

Ephesians 6:18a, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

 

I was listening to a Christian music station yesterday while driving.  In between songs I heard a comment made that went something like this: “When you are not praying during the day and asking God to lead you, you are doing things in your own power.”  I’m sure that is not an exact quote but it does make me stop and consider my prayer life.

 

What did Paul mean when he wrote the words of the Scripture above?  What does it mean to “pray without ceasing” or to be “praying always”?  Before you get to feeling your Christian walk is not very good because you are not in a head-bowed, eye-closed position all day long, know that is not what Paul is talking about.  Instead, think of being in continual prayer as a God-conversation in your heart all day.  Think of praying without ceasing as frequent prayer of all kinds and in all occasions throughout the day; think of it as being aware of God walking with you as you go through every situation and circumstance during the day.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6 to “be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.”  When our thoughts turn to fear, or anxiety, or discouragement, or anger we are to immediately pray.  That is to be our first response!

 

“For Christians, prayer should be like breathing. You do not have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and essentially forces you to breathe. That is why it is more difficult to hold your breath than it is to breathe. Similarly, when we are born into the family of God, we enter into a spiritual atmosphere where God’s presence and grace exert pressure, or influence, on our lives. Prayer is the normal response to that pressure. As believers, we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer.” (Got Questions.org)

 

My wife often says a quick prayer when we see an accident, or hear sirens rushing by our house, or when an amber alert sound on our phone.  Peter’s request to the Lord Jesus was, “Lord, save me!” Prayer throughout the day can be a simple response or request for guidance or help for another person.  Perhaps the individual on the radio wanted his listeners to know that as Christians we are to be in constant communication with God in our hearts.  “Praying without ceasing” does not need to be done in a certain format or in a fixed time and place.  It seems to me that as we grow in our relationship to our heavenly Father, we would desire to be in constant fellowship with Him.  That would help us from stepping off the narrow road to heaven because we stop trying to do life in our own strength; we are living according to God’s direction and will for our life.

 

There is a time and place for getting alone with God and spending time with Him in adoration, thankfulness, seeking Him.  Jesus spent much time alone with His heavenly Father.  Because He did, He lived and walked a life of prayer. By that, I mean Jesus lived an awareness of His Father with Him and that He was actively engaged in His words and actions.  You and I can live this way as well.  Spend time with the Lord in prayer where we bow our heads and close our eyes in prayer and spend the rest of the day facing every situation and circumstance knowing that He is with us leading and guiding our responses and our actions.  If we don’t, then we are living in our own strength and our own power.  Which is better - God’s way or your way?

 

 

 

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