I Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing [ adialeiptos ].
The Apostle Paul here in I Thessalonians admonishes us to " Pray without ceasing ". Everyone immediately, of course, upon reading this will say .... " That's not possible! " And they would be right ..... " no one can pray all the time ". But we can all pray a lot more that we currently do. And if you think about it as Christians we can pray much more through our day then we more than likely think possible.
When I first read this as a new Christian, those many years ago, it actually made me wonder what in the heck Paul was telling us. And I basically thought to myself:
" It might be easy for Paul, who was an Apostle and in the full time ministry, to pray all the time but I don't think I can. After all, I have a job, a wife, children, parents, other family members, responsibilities with my home, career, church, other organizations that I'm a member of, and the list goes on and on... How can Paul or God every expect me to pray without ceasing? "
But as I've grown in my Christian walk over the years I've come to realize this very important fact.... " The more I pray the closer my walk with God becomes. Therefore, I need to learn to pray more than I do so that I can become closer to Him. " But the questions remained in my mind, " How Do I pray more in this day to day world ? How do I learn to pray without ceasing ? ".
Over the years, as my Christian walk matured, I've since learned what I believe Paul is trying to tell us and how we also can " Pray Without Ceasing " ! First off, the greek word used here for " without ceasing " is " adialeiptos " {ad-ee-al-ipe'-toce} which means " without intermission, incessantly, without ceasing ". But the question still remains ..... How do we pray " without intermission, incessantly, and without ceasing ? ".
how I've come to learn to " Pray Without Ceasing "
the way I believe Paul did .....
and the way I believe our Heavenly Father expects us to as well.
This is how I " pray without ceasing ":
First, of course, when I get up in the morning I go to my quiet spot, kneel, and pray for my personal daily concerns and things on my mind which is just my normal daily prayer ..... However ..... the last thing I ask of our Heavenly Father during this prayer is for Him to listen throughout the day to my prayers as things come up throughout my day ..... ( basically leaving an open contact with our Heavenly Father )
Then as I walk out to my car to begin my day I begin to silently " Pray Without Ceasing ":
As I'm walking out to my car ... I pray for a safe trip for me and my wife who leaves for work later.
As I'm pulling out of my drive I stop at the end of my drive as a neighbor drives by ... and I pray for them & for them to have a safe trip.
I pray ... " Thank You Father for loving me and showing me Your salvation ".
As I'm driving to work people pass me in their cars ( which everyone does ) and as each one does ... I pray for them.
I see a person walking along the road ... I pray for their safety.
I pray ... " Father help me to walk closer to You ".
I pull up next to someone at a traffic light ... I pray for them & their safety.
I go into a convience store for my morning coffee ... I sometimes feel " compelled to pray for others " in the store and do so. Some looking very unhappy on this morning ... they must be in need of prayer and possibly Salvation.
I pray ... " Lord help others to see Christ in me ".
Back on the road I begin to pray for those in other cars once again.
I pull into work ... I pray for those I work directly with.
I walk through the halls at work and pray for those that pass by.
One of my children or a friend facing a problem comes to mind ... I pray for them.
I have a discussion with a coworker and as our conversation ends ... I pray for them.
I pray ... " Lord help me be the Christian I should be ".
During lunch I see the President on the news ... I pray for him and the others having lunch with me.
I continue to pray for others as I'm working.
I go to the Doctor's office for an appointment ... I pray for those in the waiting room, the nurses as I see them, and finally the Doctor.
Back on the road I begin to pray for those in other cars once again until I'm home.
Back home in the driveway ... I pray for my family again.
ETC....
Many will look at this example and think that its not a possiblity in their lives. Believe me, it takes practice but it is very possible and also very rewarding ! It will put your daily walk where it should be ... thinking about our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ !
You will slowly get closer and closer to our Heavenly Father ... You will begin to see things through different eyes, His eyes ... you will start to see answers to your prayers ... people will see a difference in you ... you will see a difference in yourself ... your desire to study His word will increase ...
Anyone who spends a lot of time praying will quickly tell you this ... " My more I pray the closer my walk with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ becomes ". If you want to be blessed in this life then learn this very important message:
I leave this final piece of scripture for you to read about the times we live in and how we should live:
I Thessalonians 5:1-25
[ 1 ] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
[ 2 ] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
[ 3 ] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
[ 4 ] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
[ 5 ] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
[ 6 ] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
[ 7 ] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
[ 8 ] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
[ 9 ] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
[ 10 ] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
[ 11 ] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
[ 12 ] And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
[ 13 ] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
[ 14 ] Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
[ 15 ] See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
[ 16 ] Rejoice evermore.
[ 17 ] Pray without ceasing.
[ 18 ] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
[ 19 ] Quench not the Spirit.
[ 20 ] Despise not prophesyings.
[ 21 ] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
[ 22 ] Abstain from all appearance of evil.
[ 23 ] And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[ 24 ] Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
[ 25 ] Brethren, pray for us.
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This Article Last modified:
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