1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without
ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) Never stop
praying,
COMMENTARY PEARL
Spending time with God is not relegated to a
fraction of your waking hours. Brother Lawrence
suggests a continuous, open-ended conversation with
God throughout your day. Sounds impossible,
right? Not really, it's all about shifting your
thought process and talking with him about the
common task of life. In other words, turning
everyday moments into prayer. How would your day be
different if every waking moment was lived with an
awareness of God's active involvement in your thoughts
and actions? [The Practice of the Presence of
God: 40 Day Devotional by Brother Lawrence/Alan
Vermilye]
COMMENTARY
The Impact of Prayer
Prayer is the lifeblood of an intimate
relationship with the Father. But believers often have
questions about its power and effectiveness. Dont
hesitate to take your queries to the Lord, dig into
Scripture for answers, and seek the counsel of a
trusted spiritual mentor. Prayer is too important to
neglect.
Will Gods plans fail if I dont
pray? God is not subservient to believers or
dependent upon their prayers. The time we invest in
speaking with Him involves us in the work that He is
doing in our lives and in the world, but He will
carry on without us. Laboring alongside the Lord
is our privilege.
Does my prayer (or lack thereof) impact
Gods work? I believe that Scripture indicates the
answer to this question is both yes and no,
depending upon the situation. There are times when
Gods purpose is set. He is in control and has
determined the best course. In the Old Testament, the
Lord often prophesied what He would do and then
brought those events to pass.
In other cases, you do not have
because you do not ask (James 4:2). There are
some good things that He holds back until we put
out prayerful hands to receive them. But because
God is a loving Father, He also pours our
blessings that we wouldnt even think to request.
Believers prayers have tremendous
impact, particularly on their own faith and life. Do
you understand what an awesome privilege it is
to kneel before the all-powerful Father and
know that He listens and will respond? God loves
to be good to His children and answer their
prayers. [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles
Stanley at www.intouch.org]
The Great Thing About Prayer
I clearly remember when I was a new
Christian and first began to pray. I had never prayed
in my life. I wasn't aware that I could know
God in such a way as to call on Him and listen
to Him. I also remember the first time I prayed
with a group of other Christians. I was so
nervous. With every word, I was convinced I was
bombing in my prayer. My heart was pounding and my
throat was dry.
Sometimes we think we don't know how to
pray properly because we're not sure how to
phrase certain things. We wonder if we should use
some special kind of language or pray in a
certain posture. But these aren't the main issues at
all. Far from it! The most important thing is our
hearts. The great thing about prayer is that God
looks primarily at our hearts. Even if our prayers
aren't perfectly structured, even if they aren't
eloquent, if they come from a heart that is directed
toward God, then they are pleasing to Him.
God keeps up with all the latest
terminology, so don't worry about that. He knows what you
are saying. He knows what you are thinking. The
main thing is to start praying. Just start where
you are and speak to God straight from your
heart.
Luke 18:1 tells us that Jesus told his
disciples a story "to show that they should always
pray and never give up (NLT). So spend time in
prayer. You can pray at home. You can pray while
you're stuck in traffic.
We read in the Bible that people of all
ages from different walks of life prayed every
day, always, in any posture, and under all
circumstances. God can hear prayer at any time in any
place. [Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie]
ILLUSTRATION
Why Keep Praying!
Billy and Ruth Graham once had a prodigal
son named Franklin. He lived a rebellious life,
but his parents never gave up on him. They just
kept praying, and ultimately, Franklin came back
to the Lord. Today, hes someone whom God is
using powerfully.
What an example for us to keep praying
for our children and not give up on them. Of
course, the Devil will whisper in your ear and tell
you that its too late for your kids, and
theyll never change. But dont listen to him.
Hes a liar and the father of lies (see John
8:44).
If you have a son or daughter who has
taken a prodigal turn, dont give up on your
child. Both of my sons were prodigals for a time,
but they returned to the Lord. So keep praying,
because your child isnt beyond Gods reach. And
by the way, youre praying according to the
will of God when youre praying for someone to
come back to the Lord. So keep praying.
In fact, Luke 18:1 tells us that Jesus
told his disciples a story to show that they
should always pray and never give up (NLT).
On the other hand, if youre the
prodigal child, I want you to know that youre
breaking your parents hearts. Whatever youre
chasing after isnt going to satisfy you, and
eventually youll come to the end of it. But I hope
that you dont come to the end of it at the end
of your years and, as a result, throw your life
away. You need to come back to the Lord.
The Bible tells us that God is not
willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV). Its
the heart of God to see people come to Him - or
come back to Him. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] re 2 Peter
3:9
CLOSING PEARL
While engaged in our daily work, we should
lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These silent
petitions rise like incense before the throne of
grace; and the enemy is baffled. The Christian
whose heart is thus stayed upon God cannot be
overcome. No evil arts can destroy his peace. All the
promises of God's word, all the power of divine
grace, all the resources of Jehovah, are pledged to
secure his deliverance. It was thus that Enoch
walked with God. And God was with him, a present
help in every time of need Prayer is the
breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual
power. No other means of grace can be substituted,
and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer
brings the heart into immediate contact with the
Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and
muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the
exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer
spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you
lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties
lose their vitality, the religious experience
lacks health and vigor. It is only at the altar
of God that we can kindle our tapers with
divine fire. {GW 254}
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Gracious God,
As I journey with You today, please help
me to thank You all through the day. This
practice makes it more feasible for me to pray
without ceasing, as the apostle Paul taught. I long
to be able to pray continually, and thanking
You in every situation facilitates this pursuit.
My thankful prayers provide a solid foundation
on which I can build all my other prayers.
Moreover, it's so much easier for me to communicate
freely with You when I have a grateful attitude.
If I keep my mind occupied with thanking
You, I'm less likely to fall into hurtful
patterns of worrying or complaining. I've seen that
when I practice thankfulness consistently,
negative thought patterns gradually grow weaker and
weaker.
A grateful heart opens up the way for me
to draw near to You. And Your glorious Presence
fills me with Joy and Peace.
In Your joyous Name, Jesus, Amen (1
Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV; James 4:8 NKJV; Romans 15:13)
[Jesus Listens by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191203-1159.html
Luke 18:1 - Always Pray and Avoid Being
Discouraged.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20140502-0921.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
