Pray without Ceasing

Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.  For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I once struggled with "without ceasing" when it came to prayer.  One of the meanings in the Greek is "incessantly."  That seemed such a demand until I redefined and readdressed my prayer habits.  It was actually Brother Lawrence, a French religious "brother" (the monastery wouldn't allow him to become a monk) who wrote of the presence of God in his mundane work of leather-working and cooking for other monks.

Some people benefit from structure and a plan for prayer, but given my own over-structed and over-planned life, Brother Lawrence's "methodless" praying model melded into my hectic life.  Through prayer in moments caught throughout the day, I was able to capture more time with the Lord, which fed a need to create more opportunities for this communion.  Gradually, more time appeared in my life for prayer as I turned off the radio, took more pauses and sought Him on a deeper, continual level.  I could never ask, whether in busyness or calamity, "Where is God?" because I truly "became accustomed to His divine company." (as Brother Lawrence wrote)

Not only did my prayers become more frequent and internalized, but I also began to pray for others at the moment I interacted with them.  Whether I did that silently or voiced, I prayed in the moment.  The benefit was that I became better at intercession because it met needs at the point of contact and held me accountable to pray for people regularly, rather than put them on a prayer list that was sometimes forgotten.

It was at this point that my faith became more than believing, to which Brother Lawrence would concur: "For the soul...calls out to Him easily and effectively...until able to say, 'I no longer believe, for I see and experience.'"  Proof of a living God comes from interacting with Him and feeling His very presence.  This, most of all, is what I desire to have others know.  Only then will the Christian life come alive to where worship is vital, hope is real and obedience is a response to "that sacred fire of love," which lively interaction with God provides.