pray without ceasing

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I've often pondered the verse "Pray without ceasing". We know it would be physically impossible to vocalize prayers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without ever taking a break. So we can surmise that Paul is speaking here about an attitude of prayer more than the audible language of prayer. We can also notice that in the verse preceding, Paul says we are to "rejoice evermore" and then he immediately tells us to pray without ceasing. It would seem that our attitude of prayer is the key to our ablility to be filled with a spirit of rejoicing at all times. 

Effective prayer isn't contingent upon a place or a posture. We don't have to be in the church and on our knees for our prayers to be heard. Voice isn't essential when it comes to our prayer time either. Our prayers don't have to be spoken aloud or in an eloquent manner for them to reach the ears of God.  Prayers that are whispered in the quiet are most assuredly heard by our Lord. Prayers that are uttered in seemingly inaudible sounds are heard by God. Those prayers that are merely thoughts in our minds as we worship most certainly reach the precious ears of our Savior. 

Prayer is not a formula. It's not scripted. Prayer is about our relationship with almighty God. Prayer is about our hearts engaging intimately with the heart of our Lord.  Prayer is our personal interaction with our Redeemer. It is the creation bowing to the Creator. It is pouring out all that is within us to all that He is so we can become all that He desires us to be.

Pray without ceasing. And be filled with joy unspeakable and a heart overflowing with thanksgiving.

Amen

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