PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

     Failure will always occur if a Christian fails to pray and pray unceasingly, as stated in 1Thessalonians 5:17.  Instructions by God to “pray without ceasing” is not an arbitrary statement but a fact that our spirit, thoughts, and wants preclude God’s perfect path and desire for us without continual prayer.  My latest failure occurred when venturing out to shop;  I failed to pray.  Failing to heed God’s instruction allowed my wants to manifest rather than Christ’s. While out shopping, God placed the perfect opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ Jesus in my path, and I failed. I failed God, the person God placed in my path, and I failed myself. The moment the encounter ended, God’s revelation brought tears and weeping as I sat in my vehicle, crying out to God for forgiveness. As God’s forgiveness brings peace, my heart will never forget that moment when I failed.  Jesus, throughout His ministry, spoke multiple times about prayer. Not to pray boastfully, but to pray in earnest, giving us instructions on how to pray as in Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.   ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.   ‘Give us this day our daily bread.   ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.   ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen,” The Holy Bible also reveals that Jesus prayed unceasingly, giving guidance to His followers and taught that only through prayer can a disciple truly proclaim and be victorious, as stated in Mark 9:28-29, “After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive the spirit out? Only prayer can drive this kind out,” answered Jesus; “nothing else can.”  Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to flow through us to achieve God’s glory.  Prayer, “pray without ceasing,” brings victory, whereas silence brings defeat.

     All Christians are commanded to love God and their neighbor. But only through unceasing prayer will those attributes be manifested. Every day one makes Hundreds of decisions on what to think, feel and react.   God has taught me that only through unceasing prayer will those decisions glorify Him. I pray that my failure will lead to your success. May Christ Jesus bless you and keep you always.