“pray without ceasing.” ( I Thessalonians 5:17, NKJV)
PONDER THIS!
Paul in this first letter of Thessalonians admonishes all Christians to pray without stopping. He seems to inform us that our lives should be one constant, unending prayer.
Yet, how is that possible? How is it possible for one to pray constantly and consistently without ever stopping? Are we expected to join a monastery and spend our every waking moment chanting and in deep meditation? How is it possible to pray without ever ceasing to pray?
Well, Paul here is not telling us to spend every moment of our lives on our knees talking to God. To do that would be merely religious. God does not want religion from us. He wants relationship.
When Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” he is admonishing us to make it a practice of living in the presence of God. Paul is telling us to live our lives with a God consciousness. We are to be conscious of God’s presence and our relationship with God every day and in everything we do. Every moment of our day should be lived with the knowledge that God both sees and hears everything we do and say, as well as what is done and said to us.
1. Are you living your life like you are in the very presence of God?
2. Do you consciously consider that you are with God and God is with you every moment of the day?
3. Can you say that your life is a pray/praise offering to God?
Consciously consider that God is right by your side and His presence is always with you. To consciously know that God is always with you, in every situation, under every circumstance, will bring a sense of peace and confidence to your life. It will also cause you to hesitate, if not stop you, from living outside of His will. This is the result of living your life in CEASELESS PRAYER!