“Pray, without ceasing.”-(1 Thessalonians 5:17).

For two weeks I’ve been battling bronchitis and a bad, bad cough, that breaks out, unplanned but breaks in and I cough, and cough, it happens at various times during the day when I am sitting down, or when I am in bed, sometime I awake during the night and have a fit of coughing. I am now on my second round of medicines.

“But God…” who works all things together for “good,” has used it to remind me of a fantastic encouraging verse that Paul wrote to a group of young believers, followers of Christ, to encourage them in their prayer life and one way prayer should dominate their life as a new habit of approaching God, with adoration, respect, reverentially and to speak to Him about anything and everything. Like my cough, regular interruptions. So, if you would be kind enough to let me share a few things that I hope will encourage you on “Praying without ceasing.”-{1 Thessalonians 5:17}

“PRAY…”– “Hiebert adds that {PRAY-} proseuchomai “suggests the reverential attitude of the one praying rather than the length of the prayers being offered. The readers are being called to maintain such a reverential approach to God as a continuing practice.” (Ibid)”

“WITHOUT CEASING” – was used to describe a “hacking cough” that spoke of regular interruptions. “Praying without ceasing” is not confined to a time or place but is speaking of praying with a reverential, devoted attitude of respect and love and also the follower of Christ has “access” to God continually-{Read Rom 5:2; Heb 4:16″ So our day should be characterized by regular interruptions offering up prayers to God.

SOME ways to do so is to…

  • Train yourself to turn your THOUGHTS into prayers-{1 Thess 5:17}
  • Train yourself to turn your TRIALS into prayers – (Psalm 13:3-6)
  • Train yourself to turn His TRIUMPHS on your behalf into prayers-{Psalm 34:4-8; Psalm 107:23-32}

Ask the LORD to teach, remind you to …

“Pray, without ceasing.”-(1 Thess 5:17) is a command – it is a present imperative which means it is to make a habit of this, our lifestyle, this is to characterize us, it’s not a matter of whether we feel like it or not, but choosing to turn to Him constantly as Paul said to the Phillipians, “Pray ABOUT EVERYTHING…”-{Philippians 4:6}. nothing or no one is off limits for you to pray about. how wonderful He is! If it concerns you, it concerns Him. If you have reason to be thankful or praise offer it to Him which is part of “praying without ceasing.”

What or who can you Pause and Pray for now? That’s what praying without ceasing looks like :}

TAKE TIME TO look up each Bible reference to place yourself where the Holy Spirit can encourage you, strengthen your faith and also so you can help others to “TURN THEIR THOUGHTS, TRIALS, TRIUMPHS INTO PRAYERS,”

God bless

Aidan.