In His Name Devotionals
UNCEASING PRAYER
In His Name Devotionals
UNCEASING PRAYER
“Pray at all times in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
Prayer is communication with God; and like all communication, it can be developed to maximum efficiency or allowed to languish. Which you choose will determine the quality of your spiritual life.
Ironically, the freedom of worship you enjoy in today’s society and your high standard of living makes it easy to become complacent about prayer and to presume on God’s grace. Consequently, many who say they trust in God actually live as if they do not need Him at all. Such neglect is sinful and leads to spiritual disaster.
Jesus taught that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1 KJV). “Faint” speaks of giving in to evil or becoming weary or cowardly. Paul added that you should “pray at all times in the Spirit...with all prayer and petition” and “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That does not mean to do nothing but pray. It simply means to live in a constant state of God-consciousness. If you see a beautiful sunrise or a bouquet of flowers, your first response is to thank God for the beauty of His creation. If you see someone in distress, you intercede on his or her behalf. You see every experience of life in relation to God.
God wants you to be diligent and faithful in prayer. With that goal in mind, consider two Bible texts: Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:1-19, and the prayer of the disciples in Matthew 6:9-13. Both are models of majestic, effective prayer.
As you study these passages, be aware of your own pattern of prayer. Examine it carefully for strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to make any necessary changes.
