​“Pray without ceasing…”   ~1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing? How can we be in a continual state of prayer all the time? How would we ever get anything done? After all, we all have lots of stuff to do, places to go, work to be done! How could God expect us to pray without ceasing? What is Paul talking about in this verse?

He is telling us that we need to keep a continual connection with God—a non-stop line of communication to our power source—a constant mental dialogue with Jesus. We need to be working everything out in our heads with our only source of solutions. And in doing so, we will remain connected to God. It’s the only way to keep the enemy at bay and unable to attack us.

Paul isn’t referring to being in a state of non-stop formal prayer. He’s not saying we should be kneeling down, hands folded, eyes closed 24/7, but rather communicating with God continually in our heads.

Here are some examples of my all day, non-stop conversations with God. I talk about everything that’s happening, and ask for Him to keep me calm and grounded—to help me not get angry when people are rude and disrespectful—to empower me to pray for them rather than curse them!

God loves to show himself to us in a multitude of ways. I always ask Him to join me in everything—while I cook (because quite frankly I’m afraid to pick up a sharp knife or touch the hot oven without His assistance). When I go shopping (because it’s a nightmare if I go without Him but actually quite enjoyable when He’s with me). I’m always amazed at how much Jesus enjoys spending time with me at the grocery store. I ask Him to help me find what I need and am shocked by the fact that He deliberately leads me to whatever I’m looking for. And then the fact that there’s only one left on the shelf just makes me smile, and this happens pretty much with everything on my list.

I always talk to Him when I’m driving because it’s a crazy place on the roads anymore. It doesn’t matter where I’m going, I need Him to calm me and visit with me—to help me focus on my driving and protect me from harm. Honestly, I can’t imaging driving a car without Him next to me! I converse about everything, and I always feel His mighty presence—who wouldn’t want that? 

​​“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”​   ~​Psalm 28:6-7

​Should I still say prayers?

Is there still a need for formal praying? Absolutely! I pray a number of times both day and night. I reach out to God with praise, I sing my favorite song to Him (How great Thou art!). I pray in gratitude for all that I have, everything from my extremely great health to the blessing of air conditioning on these 90 degree days here in Florida. I listen for replies in the form of words, thoughts, even bible verses (the most important means of communication the Holy Spirit uses to reach out to us).

I accept the entire Bible as the word of God, and the prophecies of the Bible as true predictions of future events. I ask for faith and peace to get through these crazy, scary end-times. I pray for all my needs, for healing and restoration for my family and friends as well as acceptance of His perfect will; even if it isn’t what I want. I pray for the power to refrain from every kind of evil—to not speak words or do things that are unpleasant to Him.

Formally praying when we are attacked by the enemy is essential. When we are tempted to do things we know we shouldn’t do, we must immediately reach out to God in prayer. He always listens to our prayers and He always answers us. Also reaching out to Him with regret every time we fail, asking for forgiveness, and then accepting the fact that we are totally forgiven!

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”   ~1 John 5:14-15

The following verse is the rest of the “Pray without ceasing” verse. It’s really important to always read God’s word in text, this means line upon line. We must try to understand the situation that was occurring at the time these words were spoken. In the case of Paul telling the  church of the Thessalonians to pray unceasingly, he was telling them how to not fuss with each other, but instead how to be at peace. I am strongly recommending you read all of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 because it’s all about these end times we are currently living in!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”   ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-23

So, what is the ultimate recipe for keeping in communication with, and resetting our connection to God? It’s all of the above, as well as making time to read His word and spending quiet time along with our Creator—deliberately choosing to commune with our source of everything. After all, if we don’t read His word how can God pop these verses into our heads when we need them? Jesus Himself quoted the scriptures when the enemy attacked Him. The word of God is by far the most power-filled weapon against Satan.

“But He answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”   ~Matthew 4:4

Staying connected to God by reading His word and talking to Him is by far our greatest weapon against the enemy. On our own, we can not beat Satan. It’s simply not within our human ability! But Almighty God is very able to curtail our sinful desires, and cancel out the resulting consequences as well. He will always enable us to walk away from all evil.  Yes, on our own we will always fail because with men this is impossible, only God can empower us to do good, for I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

​“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”   ~2 Corinthians 9:8