Prayer Made Simple

Pray without ceasing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The Bible lays out various types of prayer, how to pray, and even a model for prayer. However, there’s a clear instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 that makes prayer simple: Never stop praying.

Some people believe our eyes must be closed and we must be on our knees to pray. Others believe there must be a script or a minimum time limit that we pray. But the directive to pray without ceasing overrides all these guidelines. You see, prayer is simply communication with God—both speaking and listening to God. More than a format, God desires a constant way to connect with you.

God wants to have an open line of communication with us all day, every day. This means we can pray on our knees or we can pray standing up. We can pray early in the morning when we’re all alone, or we can pray under our breaths on a crowded train. We can declare His Word in scripture and whisper a simple “Help me, Lord” when we’re in trouble. We can tarry alone for hours or pray corporately in a group setting. The Bible teaches us to have faith in what we’re praying for and our faith can move mountains. We can pray in the Holy Spirit when we don’t know what we should pray, and we can use the model prayer that Jesus taught in Matthew 6 to help us take important topics before God.

There is much to learn about prayer through the Word of God, but what God desires most is our unceasing prayers.

When you pray without ceasing, you establish a deeper relationship with God, and you’ll learn to recognize His voice. Prayer gives you the supernatural power to bring God’s will to earth; it’s an invitation to become a history-maker.

REFLECTION

Have you considered prayer a simple act of communication between you and God? How can you be reminded to pray without ceasing? Tip: Take every thought, desire, worry, or concern to God first. Hold an ongoing conversation with Him all day.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for the invitation to become a history-maker for You. Holy Spirit, help me pray in God’s will. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’s name, amen.