Pray Without Ceasing
By George Stroh
Febuary 13, 2012
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Through the years I have developed the habit of closing my public prayers by saving "Amen." The Hebrew origin of the word "Amen" is said to mean "so be it". However, when we say "Amen" at the end of our prayers, it usually just means we are ending or ceasing to pray-- like "over and out"!
I continue to say "Amen" when I pray out loud in public, otherwise some folks won't know when I'm done praying and might not open their eyes! Just kidding. When praying silently, I take the Apostle Paul's encouragement to "pray without ceasing" literally. I may silently say "Amen", expressing "so be it", but my prayer never ceases because I am never really disconnected from God; For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38,39)
We are to "pray without ceasing" because our physical and spiritual needs, our praises and our thanksgivings to Him never cease; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. As Christians, our life is Christ and we are never separated from His love; For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21).
There is another good reason that we should "pray without ceasing". Staying close to God by reading His Word and praying to Him, brings glory to Him and protects us from sinning against Him. We are, of course, always in His presence. But it is very difficult, if not impossible, for a true Christian who is consistently in God's Word and continually praying to Him, to simultaneously sin against Him. The Holy Spirit, who searches our minds and hearts, knows us intimately. He either commends or convicts us regarding even our most secret thoughts and motives.
So... pray at all times and pray without ceasing. In so doing you will bring glory to God and grow in your godly wisdom, spiritual strength, faith and obedience. Amen and Maranatha!
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