Pray without ceasing.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

There is a lot to be praying about, pandemics, the world, our country, our community, friends, family, the young, the old, ourselves, suffering, relationships, praise for good things, lament for hard things. The list goes on and on. I have thought a lot about prayer recently. I have had more time to have an active prayer life, not that I have always used my extra time to grow in my prayer life, but my heart is yearning for more prayer time regardless of what my actions show. The scripture verse above encourages me and weighs me down. Mostly, I think it is convicting. It tells us that to have joyful, unrelenting prayer is the will of God for us.

I believe that prayer is our access into having a relationship with God. Our God is a speaking God. He spoke creation into being, “And God said, let there be light” Genesis 1:3. Through Jesus Christ we have complete access to speak directly to God. We can also be assured that God hears our prayers, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13. God wants us to seek him with all our hearts. This sounds like a relationship that is trustworthy. Prayer gives us access into knowing God and his attributes. The more we pray, the more our prayers become his will and not ours. If God is all powerful, we should be bringing all our thanks, confessions and requests to him. God’s will for us does not stop with prayer though. I recently read this from Alistair Begg. “We can do more than pray, after we have prayed, but not until we have prayed.” To me this says, prayer points us to action.

My prayer for us is that we pray joyfully and with out ceasing. I pray we seek God in our prayers. and that we desire to grow deeper in our understanding and love for Christ through our scripture reading and unrelenting prayer.

There are so many great scripture verses on prayer for more study.

1 John 5:14- This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

2 Chronicles 7:14- If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Ephesians 6:18- And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

James 5:13- Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

Mary Jo Andrews