May 17, 2022 -- I Thessalonians 5:16-19 -- Pray without ceasing

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
I Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV

How does one “pray without ceasing”? Seems impossible doesn’t it? The commands around it give you some help on this. Think of them, all the reasons you have to rejoice: salvation, the knowledge of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit; opportunities to share your faith; times you see how your faith impacts others and they become those rejoicing always. The fact you have a Father in heaven Who has chosen to love you in Christ and guards you for His purposes by His Holy Spirit, planted deep in you.

Prayer without ceasing flows from such rejoicing. Look for people to pray for. Here is an example: “The Joshua Project” (you can find it on-line). Each day there is a people group listed and there is information on their language, their circumstances, how resistant these folks are to the Gospel and ways to pray for them. Pray a Psalm. Every day, read a Psalm and make this part of your prayers. Find the names of your city’s mayor and town councilors and pray for them by name. List the names of ten people in your life who are not (yet) Christians and pray regularly, daily, for their salvation. As they become Christians, ask God if you are to help them grow in their faith. Pray for such wisdom to mentor them in knowing God.

Do not quench the Spirit. The Spirit of God will take the word, the circumstances of your life, and the people in your life and bring them to mind. As the Spirit leads you, pray for such people. Pray through the things in their life. Pray that such trials or health concerns will deepen their faith, break bondage to sin and cause them to grow in faithfulness. Maybe the Spirit, during a newscast, will lead you to pray for the nations suffering from famine and drought in the Horn of Africa? Maybe the Spirit of the LORD will lead you to pray for those in Manitoba who in this year's flood are spear-heading the rescue and relief efforts. 

The Christian life is hard work for all of us. We are constantly to die to ourselves, our self-interest, our passions which would pull us away from obedience to Jesus in all things and all times. We must confess our sins. As we know we are forgiven, then change our circumstances, remove opportunities for sin away from ourselves. or move ourselves away from sin-inducing environments. Through-out the day, as you think of others, pray. At the start of the day, dedicate yourself to the Living God, and entrust all the things that happen the in the to His care. At the end of the day, give thanks to the Living God, for His mercies, His answered prayers, and the gift of sleep. 

King Jesus, Your disciples asked You: "teach us to pray". So many centuries later, so many countless writings and books on the subject available to us, and we must confess we are still floundering in our prayer-life. Confronted with Your splendor and majesty, Your power and Your willing ability to intervene in the ordinary circumstances of our lives, we confess we are often prayerless. Forgive us. Renew in us a holy fascination for prayer; more even than this, from that place give us a zeal to run to You with all our requests and praises, all our hopes and confessions. As you, Jesus, with the Father in heaven, sent Your Spirit to Your people so that believers may grow in holiness, obedience and prayerfulness--so lead us to trust the Spirit's work and leading in every area of our lives, particularly His Work in leading us more fully into communion with You, Triune God. Amen.

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