Day 4 - Week 68 - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."

This is one of those days where faith is tested...when you see if your faith truly makes a difference in the way you handle things.  We all face days like this, and they can be comprised of circumstances as varied as can be imagined.  But when the rubber meets the road, when we are faced with a dilemma, a choice, an avenue to be taken...does our faith in God make a difference?  I am praying today that mine does, and that it can be evident that it does. I am praying for Godly wisdom in how I handle the issues of today.  I am praying that in all ways that I exude His Spirit.  I am praying that I recognize God's need to keep me humble, to not be afraid of admitting failure or the consequences of such admission.

I can see some reading this thinking, "What is going on in Janice's life?"  It is nothing earth-shattering, it is just one of those things that happen at times, something that didn't go as planned and that you have to reflect on and see what part you played in the ball being dropped.  But it IS a time to be handled with prayer...and not resolved within my own thinking, my own attitudes or my own ways...Satan can certainly use opportunities like this to allow us to be self-promoting, manipulative and hurtful.

"Pray constantly."  Right now, I'm praying that I will continue to pray through this day.  That with every conversation, every discussion, I will stop and ask God's Spirit to direct me.  That His wisdom will guide me to find good solutions to this "problem of the day."  For today's problem is not something that is dire, or life-altering.  It is just difficult.  And we all have difficult issues that we face all the time.  My admonition to you, and to me, is that we never face them without asking for God's incredible power to be with us.

Day 3 - Week 68 - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."

"Prayer is a practice to cultivate.  To pray constantly means prayer is recurrent, something we keep doing incessantly and frequently, a perpetual pattern, not constantly occurring but consistently recurring.  If we read through 1 Thessalonians, by the time we get to this verse, we'll have noticed several prior references to the habit.  Paul began the book saying, 'We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers.'  In chapter 2 he said, 'We constantly thank God, because...you received the message.'  He added in chapter 3, 'We pray earnestly night and day to see you face to face.'  Paul wasn't literally on his knees around the clock, but his prayers were frequent and recurrent." - Robert J. Morgan from 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart. 

Do you see a difference in saying, "Pray constantly" and "Never stop praying"?  While they really say the same thing, they carry with them a different picture, don't they?   I think the latter is what is meant to be conveyed to us....we are to never give up on praying, we are to never abandon praying, we are never to disregard the tremendous gift that has been given to us....access to our Father through the gift of prayer. 

I would say this verse can be viewed as an encouragement..."pray constantly"...reminding us to pray throughout our day, bringing before God each moment of trouble as well as each moment of thanksgiving.  And I think this verse can be viewed as a directive..."never stop praying"...an instruction for our spiritual well-being, keeping our relationship with God alive and strong.

" 'Rejoice evermore: pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks.' Borne up between the never-ceasing joy and never-ceasing praise, never-ceasing prayer is the manifestation of the power of the eternal life."   Andrew Murray

Day 2 -- Week 68 - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."

We are back in town after spending a few days traveling with our son, daughter-in-law and two very, very sweet granddaughters. Genny and Audrey are 5 and 3, just the ages where everything they say seems to either be the smartest thing you think you've ever heard come out of a child's mouth or the funniest! I think you can tell that they bring me joy! They make my heart happy and I truly count them as such a heavenly blessing to my life! Seeing Genny thoroughly enjoy the production of "Mary Poppins" that we attended was such a treat, as was watching Audrey's ear-to-ear smile in the hotel pool!  Memories to treasure!


"Pray constantly." Sounds rather unrealistic, doesn't it? Are we actually being instructed to be in solitude with God 24/7? Weren't Jesus' instructions to "go into your room and close the door"? How can we be in that kind of position and continue on with life?

Jesus' instructions were given to counter the public, and very showy, prayers of the Pharisees. I believe He was saying to keep our deep conversations with God to our private times with Him, and not to go on and on in our public prayers.  Conversely, I think Paul is telling us that we are to be in a spirit of prayer always.  That our troubled thoughts are to be replaced with a confident prayer. 

Prayer is the conduit for the power source of our life...God.  Prayer brings Him into our life, and into our thoughts.  Prayer focuses our minds on Him, rather than on here.  Whatever it is that is troubling us, God is bigger than and when we shift our thought process to Him, He overcomes.

Also, prayer is our method for thanksgiving and praise.  Whenever we have a moment of true joy (such as those I experienced this weekend), we are to pause and give thanks to God for blessing our life in such a manner.  To remind ourselves that every good and perfect gift comes from Him.  To savor His presence in that moment of joy in the acknowledgement of His goodness toward us.

Robert J. Morgan says, "When we cultivate a consciousness and subconsciousness of God's abiding presence, it becomes natural to speak to Him spontaneously through the day.  We learn to pray as we walk on the greenways and drive down the highways.  We start and close each day with a word of prayer. We pause to pray before meals and after meetings.  We never endeavor anything of significance without breathing a word of prayer or praise."

This is the lifestyle of praying constantly that Paul leads us toward.  It is the constant acknowledgement of God and His abiding presence in our lives.  He is with us always.