Unceasing Prayer

Welcome to the Days of Praise podcast, a daily devotional by the Institute for Creation Research. Unceasing prayer, pray without ceasing. First Thessalonians five seventeen. This is no doubt the shortest commandment in the Bible, and seemingly the most difficult to obey. How could anyone possibly pray without ceasing?

What about sleeping or working or other necessary pursuits? Paul himself claimed to pray without ceasing. For example, he wrote to the Roman Church: "For God is my witness that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers." To the Thessalonians, he wrote, we give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith. In his very last epistle, he wrote, "I thank God that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day." It is obvious from such references that Paul did not mean we should be uttering prayers continually, but rather to be continually in a prayerful attitude, and never to stop the regular practice of prayer. In like fashion, the Lord Jesus said, "Men ought always to pray and not to faint." In the parable following this command, He spoke of God's own elect, which cry day and night unto Him.

This would further imply that our prayerful attitude and regular practice of specific prayer should be taking place every day and every night. We should never faint, that is, lose heart, if the answer isn't what or when. We hope, but keep on praying anyway. When it's the right time, he will indeed answer speedily and in the right way. To pray without ceasing means simply to be free to communicate quickly with him, night and day, always in an attitude of prayer.

If ye abide in me, he said, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask when ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John fifteen seven. If you've enjoyed today's devotional, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and please rate and review so more listeners can find us. To support ICR's ministry, visit icsr.org/donate. Your gift of any amount helps us to reach.

Others with biblical truth and encouragement. Thanks for listening. We hope you'll start each day with days of praise.