Bible Discussion Thread

How to pray without ceasing?

With respect and affection . My mom and dad are both quite poorly and have numerous unpleasant illnesses , so in my heart and mind each day , as I am going about my business , I pray to God : dear God please b merciful to my mom and dad . I don't believe all our prayers need to b formal or need to b spoken out loud . We can carry them in our hearts all day , God can c straight into our hearts . Here r some scriptures that u might find helpful : 1st Sam Ch 12 V 23 , Job Ch 33 v 26 , Jeremiah Ch 29 v 12 , Psalm 122 v 6 , Luke Ch 6 V 28 , Luke Ch 18 V 1 , Luke Ch 21 v 36 , John Ch 17 V 9 and 1st Tim Ch 2 V 8 . I think Job Ch 42 v 8 ties in nicely with James Ch 5 V 16 . Revelation Ch 22 V 20 ties in with Mat Ch 6 V 10 . Finally Psalm 122 v 6 ties in with Ezekiel Ch 40 to 48 and the return of Christ as I believe that to pay for the peace of Jerusalem is to pray for the return of Christ , only then will Jerusalem know true and lasting peace. U can have a prayer in your heart all day every day , either a personal one or a more scriptural one . I tried to post this message before but I think I messed up my e mail address and it didn't go through .

With respect and affection . I have what u might call my formal prayers that I do every day and then I have little prayers in my heart and mind throughout the day . I don't think that all our prayers have to b formal . I often pray as I am walking around outside or doing my chores . Both my parents r quite poorly so I often say in my head : dear God please b merciful to my mum and dad . They both have a lot of painful and distressing ailments . Here r a few scriptural references about the importance of prayer : 1st Sam Ch 12 V 23 , Jer Ch 29 v 12 , Luk Ch 21 v 36 , Luk Ch 6 V 28 , Luk Ch 18 V 1 , John Ch 17 V 9 , 1st Tim Ch 2 V 8 . Job Ch 42 v 8 and James Ch 5 V 16 go together nicely I think . Jesus tells us in Mat Ch 6 V 10 to pray : Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done , this ties in with Rev Ch 22 V 20 nicely as we wait for Ezekiel Ch 40 to Ch 48 to b fulfilled . To pray for the peace of Jerusalem is to pray for the return of Christ I believe . It is only then that Jerusalem will have true and lasting peace . There r lots of little prayers that u can carry in your heart and mind all day long , some personal to u , others more scriptural . God looks straight into your heart and mind all day , with ease . We r open books to Him .

Hi Haymanot. I don't believe that the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 expected that every moment of our day is taken in prayer. Christians are not ascetic monks isolated from society, taken up with prayers & meditations - of course they do it for other motives.

But to "pray without ceasing" I feel, is to live such a godly lifestyle, where prayer becomes as natural to us as the air we breathe in - where prayer is the exhaling of spiritual expressions to a loving Heavenly Father Who seeks the love & adoration of those in Christ His Son. Do we arise in the morning with thoughts of God's Presence & Love? Or before meals, before we jump into the car, before we are to meet someone, or even seeing something beautiful around us that causes us to lift up our hearts in thanksgiving to a loving Creator? But God knows that we still have to focus on our daily work & plans, but in it all, we can always pause & praise Him & commit our paths ahead, to Him in 'unceasing prayer'.

Thanks a lot.

Haymanot

Greetings

You have received some very good replies to your question

About 20 years ago I read a small easy to read book called "Practicing the presence of God"

It spoke about some of the things people have mentioned Here already . Essentially this book talks about living every moment aware that we are in God'ss Presence through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

Therefore, we are to speak with God, contemplate His Word and excellencies, lift up

Petitions to Him as they come into our minds, live in gratitude to Him and all He provides, and in all that we do, remember to do ot unto God as we go through our day to

Day activities.