1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV — pray without ceasing,
It’s one of many instructions given to the Thessalonian church.
The message is profound, but often questioned.
“How do I pray without ceasing?”
It’s a two fold instruction.
First, we are to live our lives completely surrendered to Jesus Christ, we are to abide in Him.
John 15:4 KJV — Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
We abide in Jesus by following His commands and growing in our relationship with Him through time in His Word and prayer.
This abiding isn’t a now and then thing, but something we do throughout our day.
It’s a life which is dependent upon Jesus Christ, not their own efforts.
Proverbs 3:5-6NKJV — Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
We should not stop seeking our Lord’s will, no matter our activities or location.
Yet, the other part of this is our responsibility as children of God to intercede.
Prayer without ceasing means we lift up those requests the Lord places on our hearts until He answers.
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 NKJV
Intercessory prayer is a response to the Holy Spirit’s leading and should be an out pouring of our love and devotion to Christ.
For Jesus, Himself, prayed for others. (John 17:6-26)
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
John 17:20-23 NKJV
Both abiding and intercession begin with praying.
Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV — “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Let us begin each day with prayer and be blessed by offering Him the first fruits of our day.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your Word and Your instruction. Lord, thank You that You want a personal relationship with each one of us. Thank You for the privilege of prayer. Lord, to be able to seek Your face daily and to stand before You lifting up others is such a wonderful gift! Lord, please help me not only to look to my own interests, but to the interests of others. Please help me to begin and end my day with prayer, seeking You throughout. Lord, please help me to be honorable and loving before You and others. Lord, please keep me from those things which grieve Your Holy Spirit. Lord, please help me to be wise and discerning, not blind to sin or my own areas of weakness. Lord, please protect me from the snares of the enemy. Thank You for Your love, Your righteousness, Your faithfulness. Please teach me today and help me to be an example to others, that they might long to be closer to You. Thank You, Jesus! Amen.
patientlyhopeful 