Do you pray? Do you pray a lot? Do you pray continually? Are you wondering how you can pray continually? Do you think it is impossible? Do you know that prayer is as much about attitude as it is about speaking or thinking?
We are often told we should pray. We are told we should pray often, perhaps multiple times per day. I don’t believe we should pray multiple times per day. I believe we should pray once per day that lasts for twenty-four hours. You may believe that is utterly impossible. It is if your idea of prayer is being on your knees.
I attended a men’s prayer breakfast several years ago in Quantico, VA. The speaker that day was a retired Colonel. He spoke on today’s verse and provided his understanding of what praying continually means. Depending on the translation you use, it may read as “pray without ceasing.”
He looked at this as keeping the communication line between us and God open, always being available. His analogy was the communications used by the military, especially when on an operation. You see, radios are set up across the various organizations and perhaps with each individual. There is always someone assigned to be at the radio listening for communications and ready to transmit communications from the commander. The radio operator is to keep the radio on the proper channel and replace batteries as needed.
We are to be in the same posture or attitude when it comes to prayer. To pray continually means to talk to God often throughout the day. It also means being available for Him to talk to us, listening for His quiet voice for guidance. Much like our military could not effectively carry out missions without good communications, we cannot walk through life in a manner pleasing to God without constantly communicating with Him.
I can attest to this being a difficult concept to grasp and implement initially. However, as we continue to work at it, it becomes second nature. We can train ourselves to constantly be listening for God’s Spirit to talk to us and we can always reach to God as we come across decision points, obstacles, and reasons to give thanks.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18 to pray for all kinds of things. By doing so, we include God in our lives in a much deeper way. We start living our lives in accordance with God’s will. We make God happy when we reach out to Him.
I pray we all decide to pray continually. I pray we decide to make an effort to listen for God speaking to us. I pray we decide to make God happy. I pray each of us will keep the line of communication open with God. Pray at all times. Pray for everything. Listen for God. Make God happy.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually
