1 Thessalonians 5:17 - God's Presence And Continuous Prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - God's Presence And Continuous Prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) pray without ceasing,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) pray continually;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (CWR) Never stop praying.
INTRODUCTION
Be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful - these three
commands often go against our natural inclinations. But when we make a
conscious decision to do what God says, we will begin to see people in a
new perspective, and we will find it easier to be joyful, prayerful,
and thankful.
Never stop praying means not giving up. It does not mean
consciously praying at every moment. We cannot spend all our time on our
knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times,
being constantly in conversation with God and attentive to his
Spirit's ongoing presence in our everyday lives. A prayerful attitude is
not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an
outgrowth of those focused times.
If you find yourself filled with worry, turn those thoughts
into prayers. If you are excited or happy about something, turn that
into a prayer of thanks to God. He desires to be close to your life -
in sorrow and joy. Open yourself to his presence. [One Year NLT SB
re vss. 16-18]
COMMENTARY
No matter how intent we are on focusing on God, the events of
any given day seem to undermine our focus. Most of us don't live in
a monastery or a cabin in the woods and exist solely to commune
with Him consciously. We have schedules. Distractions. Fires to put
out. People to answer to. And a cacophony of voices vying for our
attention. Focusing on God doesn't come naturally.
That's why we need to practice paying attention to Him - what
Brother Lawrence and many others have called "practicing the Presence of
God." We have to take moments - seize them forcefully - to consciously
turn our attention back toward Him. We have to make ourselves think
of Him until it becomes natural, until we are constantly aware of
His Presence.
How can we do that? Think of all the times we wait for
something - in line at the store, on hold to talk with someone, or any
other downtime when thoughts wander. Open a conversation with God in
those moments. At the beginning of a meeting or even in the middle of
a conversation with someone, breathe a quick, silent prayer
inviting God into the room. Ask Him to fill your words with His Presence
or to work through circumstances. The result can turn a casual
conversation into a major advance in a relationship or a new direction in
goals. It can leverage a crisis situation for His glory. The course of
a day - or a lifetime - can be radically shifted by inviting Him
into the details of any given moment.
Try that today. Every few minutes invite Him into whatever is
happening in you and around you. He can invisibly but powerfully change
the environment with His peace and Presence, and your days can take
on a whole new meaning.
Lord, I invite You into this moment right now - and the next,
and the next. Please help me keep my thoughts fixed on You, Your
goodness, and Your power. [The One Year Experiencing God's Presence
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen re Psa. 145:5]
God is persistent. His rescue plan for humanity took
millennia to unfold, but even after repeated rejection by His people, He
continued to redeem, restore, and prepare for the Messiah. He relentlessly
pursues our love and does not abandon us, no matter how many times we
fall. He has promised to complete the work He has begun in us, no
matter how long it takes or how winding the road seems to be. God does
not give up.
It only makes sense, then, that this God of persistence tells
us to be persistent. He continues to make us in His image, and this
is one of the ways we are to reflect Him. That's why Jesus told His
disciples to pray and "never give up" (Luke 18:1), giving them parables
about knocking on a neighbor's door repeatedly (Luke 11:5-8) and
pestering a judge until he gives a favorable decision (Luke 18:1-8). In
our pursuit of God, His Kingdom, and His will for our lives, we are
to be relentless just as He is relentless - even if the one we
petition is Him. He invites us to remind Him of His promises and take no
rest in doing so (Isaiah 62: 6-7). He urges us to "pester" Him.
Hear His heart: "I don't ask for your persistent prayers
because I'm hard of hearing. I ask for them because in the process of
asking, listening for My answers, waiting on Me to act, and continuing
to seek out My will, you are being drawn close to Me. My delays are
rarely a no; they are an invitation to come closer. If you learn this,
you will find yourself growing deeper and stronger in Me."
Father, forgive me for giving up too quickly when I pray.
There's no reason for me not to come to You for everything at all times.
May Your Spirit remind me often to pray, and may You hear my
requests and answer them according to Your power and purpose. [The One
Year Experiencing God's Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need
for Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness, properly handled,
is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must
be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your
inadequacy presents you with a continual choice - deep dependence on Me, or
despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with
problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by
praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present
moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. Keep on
asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and
complete. (1 Th. 5:17; John 16:24) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
CLOSING PEARL
Listening for the Holy Spirit becomes the great adventure of
prayer - We come with hands empty, so that He can fill them. [The One
Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20060426-0935.html
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON EXPERIENCING GOD:
http://sda.biggytv.com/watch/Revive!_-_Dwight_Nelson:_Experiencing_Gods_Grace/revive/
BIBLE PROPHECY SERIES ON REVELATION:
http://revelationtodaylive.com/live
ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES: THUNDER IN THE HOLY LAND
Send email request to fggibbs@aBible.com
