Pray Without Ceasing

I Thessalonians 5:17 commands, “Pray without ceasing.”  Throughout history there has been a lot of misunderstanding about prayer, with almost every religion and many non-religious people talking about prayer.   Countless books have been written about how to pray, prescribing a specific ritual, specific words, a special position, or countless other things to help our prayer life.   Various people have been held up as examples of how we should pray.  Unfortunately, most of them start with a false concept of what prayer is, and in many cases the advice actually hinders spiritual prayer, focusing our attention on the wrong thing.   

Prayer is simply talking to God, communicating with him as our loving father.  In Matthew 6:5-13 Jesus gave his disciples guidelines about praying.   “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.    But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” 

Just talk to him like you would to your father, because that is who he is.  We don’t have to worry about getting everything just right, because Romans 8:26-27 tells us, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  If we mess up, the Holy Spirit will interpret it correctly.    He’s not going to get upset or ignore us if we don’t word things just right.   He wants to us to share our feelings, opinions, desires and thanks, not just repeat what someone else said.  While reading or quoting from a prayer book or praying the scriptures may make us feel very religious, Jesus said not to do it. 

Another common misconception is that we need to pray long and hard to get God’s attention.   As Jesus said, that is a heathen concept, a concept held by people who know nothing about God.    In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus contrasts the difference between God and an unjust judge.  “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” 

We ought to pray, expecting God to answer, because he loves us.  We should be able to come boldly whenever we have a need, as Hebrews 4:15-16 advises.  “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”     Because he loves us we don’t need to nag at God to wear him down like the woman did the judge.  Instead of nagging him about one thing, we ought to be talking to him about everything in our lives, much like a child walking with or helping a loving mom or dad.  As Paul said,  we should pray without ceasing, or be in a continual state of talking with God.    No where in Scripture are told to pray for hours or pray it through.   Jesus spoke of the hypocrites which make a show of their long prayers in Matthew 23:40.  As he said in Matthew 6:6, they are just after men’s admiration, and they already have their rewards. 

Jesus gave his disciples a model for their prayers in Matthew 6:9-13, which is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer.  “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”  Notice that it doesn’t use any flowery words or eloquent phrases, but gets straight to the point.  “Give us the food we need today.  Forgive our sins.  Keep us from evil things.”  It is very short, just sixty five words, even in the comparatively flowery King James English.   Jesus’ prayer in John 17 provides us an example of an actual prayer, by the greatest man of prayer and faith of all time.