CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 718

“Without Ceasing”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ESV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
—————————————————-
In a perfect physical world there would be no friction or resistance. Energy would transfer efficiently without loss. Machines would achieve perpetual motion and operate effortlessly without ceasing. Consider for the moment the spiritual realm. What friction or resistance exists that hinders your ability to ‘rejoice always’ and to ‘pray without ceasing’? The reality of our world environment is that we are subjected to circumstances that hinder our prayer life. Our flesh has its passions, wants, and desires and it resists being denied its appetites.

…I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. – 1 Peter 2:11

When everything is ‘going our way’ and life is good our flesh is satisfied and we easily offer up praise and thanksgiving to God for a blessed life. It is when we are dealing with failing health, a financial crisis, unemployment, or being underemployed that the sacrifice of praise is required. When the friction of circumstances bears down on our flesh the battle for our peace of mind is waged. We don’t feel like praying let alone praying without ceasing. We don’t want to praise God and our tendency is to complain and gripe.

A biblical symbol for the Holy Spirit is oil and just like oil is used to lubricate and compensate for friction in the physical realm, so too is the oil of the Holy Spirit necessary when the friction of life circumstances wears us down.

…be filled with the Spirit…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… – EPHESIANS 5:18

The Word of God instructs us that our ability to continually give thanks and pray no matter what our circumstances are is predicated on being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. – Romans 8:26

Do you want peace that surpasses all understanding? Do you desire the fullness of joy that comes from being continually in the Lord’s presence? Do you want to live an overcoming life in the power and authority of the Name of Jesus? You can have this and a prayer life that is as continual as your breathing.

First, cleanse your temple through repentance for the sin habit that you know defiles your temple and hinders your communion with God. The Holy Spirit has already whispered what is necessary. You need only obey. Receive the forgiveness that comes by the cross of Jesus Christ and renounce your lifestyle of sin from the past. Second, actively seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Have a prayer discipline that worships God and seeks His presence rather than offering up ‘magic genie give-me’ prayers that are selfishly centered on the desires of your flesh.

May you be filled with the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. May your prayer life be without ceasing as you live and move and have your being in the authority of the Name of Jesus.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God