pray without ceasing

In Thessalonians 5.17, the Apostle Paul encourages us to "pray continually," or in some translations, "pray without ceasing."  How are we to do this?  Does Paul simply mean that we are to always pray everyday?  Or does he mean that we are to live our lives, engaging in prayer literally, without ceasing?  Both are good and important, but I believe that Paul is asking for a way of life that is lived in communion with God moment by moment, second by second, each day.  This is the way his words have most often been interpreted down through the centuries, as well.

Frank Laubach, missionary to the Philippines, believed so, too.  In the early 20th century he began an experiment in which he attempted to keep his mind and heart aware of God every minute of the day, in constant conversation, regardless of what he was doing.  He even went so far as to record in his journal a percentage of the time he felt he had been able to be consciously in communion with God each day!  It was one way to very literally obey Paul's instruction to pray continually.

On Sunday, at the end of the sermon, I had all of the congregation join me in a prayer exercise in which I encouraged what is known as breath prayer - prayer said as we breathe in and breathe out.  This form of prayer might seem similar to some Eastern religious practices, but it has also long been a type of prayer engaged in by the monastic community, particularly of the Eastern Orthodox tradition.  At issue, of course, is who or what is the focus of those prayers?  Clearly, in the Christian faith, Christ is the focus.  We sit in silence, slow down our lives and bodies, so that we may commune and converse with Christ.

Likewise, fasting is another devotional practice engaged in by Christians throughout history, but it is also a practice engaged in by other religions, Islam for example.  Once again, the practices are similar, but the purpose and the One for whom we fast as followers of Jesus, are very different.

Having said all of that, what is most important is that we pray.  However God might lead you to pray - written prayers, praying the hours, breath prayers, in silence and solitude, shouting at the top of your lungs, early in the morning or late in the evening - my prayer for each of you is that you will commune with God without ceasing, day in and day out.  To God be the glory!

- Pastor Stacey