Pray Without Ceasing: Devotional on Prayer For All Occasions

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Charles Nobles once said, “First we make our habits, then our habits make us.”

We are what we repeatedly do.

Note: I think we will all agree that habits form us.

Note: A person who’s always angry is known as an angry person.

Note: A person who lies is seen as a liar. Or a politician.

Note: We are known by our actions, and we cannot escape this.

Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”

Note: What a blessing it is for us to be known as a people of prayer.

There are people who I have in my life that I know if I tell them of a concern or burden that I have, they won’t tell others or publish it on social media, but they will bring it to heaven and pray for it on my behalf.

What a blessing to be known as a people of prayer.

Note: I don’t believe the disciples were known for their prayer life. Early in their ministry, at least.

Luke 11:1 “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Note: Jesus was known for having a prayer life.

Note: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked why His disciples couldn’t at least pray for one hour.

Note: He said, “Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation.”

Note: John the Baptist had a prayer life.

Note: The disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray like John taught his disciples.

Note: The Bible teaches us to pray without ceasing. That’s a big ask for busy people, I’m I right?

Note: How can we pray every day, and every night, and all day? How is this even possible?

Note: I believe we are seeing the verse in the wrong light.

Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”

Note: Notice the expression here to “always to pray.” This is the same idea as praying without ceasing.

Note: We should not faint in our prayers, but be persistent in our prayer life.

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”

Note: When we read this verse and it says “to pray without ceasing,” we think that we should always be praying, but I believe the meaning here is that we are to be a people given to prayer.

Note: With all perseverance.

Note: Without ceasing.

Note: Praying always.

Note: Whether we see answers in this life or not.

Note: We keep praying.

Note: I believe that prayer is important for a church and a people because it accomplishes three things in our lives.