Constant
Pray without ceasing.
by Dawn Sherill-Porter
“Pray constantly” (1 Thess. 5:17).
This verse from Thessalonians isn’t obscure; most of us have heard it and, without doubt, most of us have wondered how to live out Paul’s directive.
Paul was proud of the believers in Thessalonica and their growth in the Lord. He wrote them this letter filled with practical teachings to lead them into even greater maturity. He urged them to look forward to the return of Christ and gauge their behavior, choices, and attitudes as though Christ’s return was imminent.
Paul’s message to these early Christians is just as timely for us. He compares the surprise of Christ’s return to that of a thief in the night. A thief is unlikely to announce his exact time of arrival, but we should be generally prepared for such a happenstance with wise decisions, such as locking our doors or having a security system. Just so, while we don’t know the exact moment of Christ’s return, believers can live in such a way that we’re prepared, whenever that moment should come. This will impact how we live our daily lives.
In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul describes in very clear, concise language how to “live prepared.” He instructs believers to love and be patient with others, to be ready to give admonition, support, and comfort when needed (vv. 13-16). He then says simply, “Pray constantly” (v. 17). These two words can prompt seemingly endless questions; chief among them is “How?” In answer, let’s examine prayer and find its true nature.
Continual Communion
When we think of prayer, we picture times set aside to speak our hearts to God. Bedtime, mealtime, and times of decision or crisis come readily to mind. However, is this the type of prayer Paul prescribed in this verse? Is there a way to continue with the multitude of activities and responsibilities of life while setting “all times” aside to talk with God?
Though it is surely important to often separate ourselves from the world and focus our hearts and minds on our heavenly Father, this isn’t the only type of prayer. There is another, more immediate kind; it’s an attitude of heart that recognizes God’s continual presence with us and continual involvement in our lives. This type of prayer comes from a mind that is convinced that God’s promise of residing within His people is an absolute for all true followers. Many passages in the New Testament assure us that the Holy Spirit lives within those who have given their lives to Christ.
With this in mind, we can be fully aware that our every thought is known to God. He is mindful of our every feeling. Our conversation with Him can be ongoing and never-ending when we recognize the reality that God is always listening and desiring to communicate with us. Continual prayer is the kind of prayer that arises from a heart and mind that never lose sight of God’s ever-present, caring, involved love.
It’s not difficult to understand the way Paul links the second coming of Jesus to the need for praying continually. Whether Jesus returns in 10 months, 10 years, or 10 centuries, it’s obvious that the state of the world is becoming more and more evil. We’re surrounded by and bombarded with messages that are contrary to God’s Word and alien to His kingdom.
In order to walk as Jesus walked and be His ambassadors to this fallen world, we must remain in constant, intimate conversation with our Father. We must seek His guidance and listen to His heart. As we go about our days, we can remain in continual communion with our Father because He lives within those who love and serve Him. He will never leave and He will never stop speaking His truth into our minds and hearts.
Dawn Sherill-Porter is co-founder and partner in Echo Creative Media. For the last 20 years, she’s had some amazing opportunities to study and share God’s Word, from teaching biblical Greek and Old and New Testament at a Christian university, serving as an associate acquisitions editor for a leading Christian publisher, to developing and writing Bible study curriculum. Whether she is speaking, teaching, or writing, Dawn is passionate about helping others know God and fall in love with His Word. She and her husband currently live in western Kentucky.
This article originally appeared in HomeLife magazine (April 2023). For more articles like this, subscribe to HomeLife.
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