1 Thessalonians 5:17 -- Pray Without Ceasing

Pray without ceasing. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

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WHATEVER might be our natural inclinations with reference to definiteness and persistency in prayer, we must take our instructions from the Scriptures; and overcoming our natural predilections, we must as "little children" and as "dear children" conform our views and conduct to the instruction which is from above. Let us all, therefore, remember the words, "ask (in My name), and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."--John 16:24. The Heavenly Father has multiplied mercies, blessings and providences in store for His obedient and faithful children who will ask for them. -- Based on excerpt from "Restitution, Faith Cures, Prayer Cures, and the Gift of Healing", ZWT, July 1, 1896.

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Daniel prayed formally three times a day. It is good that we may be able to set apart at least three times a day for such formal prayer. However, there is a danger in routinely praying, in that it may become simple ritual and is no longer prayer from the heart. Such prayer is described in the Bible as drawing close to Jehovah with lips while one's heart is far from him. (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:7-9) Such prayer is simply uttering words and is not actually praying at all. Similarly, formal prayer in public can become the utterance of words to be heard by men, rather than by God. (Matthew 6:5) Thus, while we should certainly often pray, we should always make sure that we are praying from the heart, not simply the utterance of words from the lips. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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Based on Isaiah 26:3, a poet tells us, "Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are truly blessed." And a hymn states, "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed." These all leave the thought that we should be living every moment as though in a state of prayer. Whatever we have to do or say, our thoughts should be inquiring of God if it meets His approval. Whatever we desire, we should be asking if the desire would be in harmony with His will, and in a constant state of thankfulness for all blessings received. Our hearts and minds should, therefore, always be stayed on our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus. This is not just three times a day, nor is restricted to any moments out each hour. It consists of every waking moment, every second, throughout each day, regardless of what we may be doing or saying. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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For one to cease pray­ing is to raise the white flag of surrender with an invincible army of reinforcement just in sight. The plan of the Apostles to "give themselves to prayer," the early disciples "continuing daily with one accord in the Temple" for prayer, and the exhortations to "continue instant in prayers" (Acts 6:4; 2:46; Rom. 12:12), give no occasion for the foolish thought that the Christian life consists only of prayer or that there must be the audible utterance every moment. God's message to us in the Bible is not words, but the thoughts of which the words are the vehicle. So with our prayers to, God; the words are not The prayers, but merely a convenience in expressing the thoughts. One, then; who constantly practices the presence of God in every thought and every activity is a praying Chris­tian, and is constant in prayer, however many and in­surmountable the hindrances that crowd out almost all opportunities of formulated petitions. Earnest­ness and fervor are necessary in that life of prayer that one may not be discouraged, for almost all if not all Christians have three "constant" enemies bitterly opposed to constancy in prayer -- the world, the arch adversary, and his own flesh and the flesh of others.  -- P. E. Thompson, Excerpt taken from "The Letter to the Colossians", Herald magazine, December 1944.

Related Scriptures:

Job 27:10

Isaiah 62:6

Daniel 6:10

Matthew 5:16

Matthew 6:5 

Matthew 20:28

Luke 18:1

Luke 21:36

John 15:8

Acts 10:2

Acts 12:5

Acts 20:28

Romans 12:12

1 Corinthians 7:23

1 Corinthians 10:31 

2 Corinthians 5:14,15

Galatians 3:13 

Ephesians 6:18

Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians 4:6

Colossians 4:2

1 Timothy 2:5,6

Titus 2:14 

Hebrews 9: 12

1 Peter. 1:18

1 Peter 2: 9 

1 Peter 4:7

Revelation 5:9

Revelation 14:4,5

Related:

The Privilege and Power of Prayer

Another Year is Dawning (Poem)

Pray Without Ceasing

Growing Through Prayer

Seven Christian New Year's Poems

Poems for the New Year