How to pray without ceasing does not mean you get down on your knees endlessly. This statement involves several things so that you can pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:16,17.
God’s Word at Work
The Word, Jesus Christ, dwells in the believer and performs His work in you, 1 Thessalonians 2:33. You should have enough understanding of the word of God so that it is written on your heart, Hebrews 8:10. Jeremiah wrote, the word of God in his heart became like a burning fire shut up in his bones. Until he was weary of holding it in and he could not endure it, Jeremiah 20:9.
The word of God is then constantly working in every aspect of your life, as your eyes are turned towards heavenly things. Not only do you need to be heavenly minded, Colossians 3:2, but when you earnestly pray you release the power of God into a sin-sick world.
Resources of Heaven
Jesus rebuked the disciples for being afraid and of little faith, Matthew 8:26. He was with them so they either had faith in Him, or were under His authority, so they could have rebuked the storm themselves.
The true follower of Christ can access the resources of the heavenly realm, as your prayers on earth summon all the forces of heaven. There are more for you than against you, 2 Kings 6:16.
What Prayer is Not
When we pray spiritually we enter the command centre of the universe. Prayer is communing with God but it is not a ‘shopping list’ of wants. We can give God a list of what we need, yet not establish an abiding relationship with the great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:3.
We all know what it is to speak to someone who is not listening to one word we say. The word for this is dysaudicant. That person is either incapable of listening, or blatantly refuses to listen. God is always listening so prayer should be a meaningful communication.
We can all rattle off the ‘Lord’s prayer’, Matthew 6:9-13, but when it is said without giving thought to the depths of the meaning of the words, it is a total waste of time. Satan loves it when we approach the things of God religiously, for it has no depth to it. Religion is man-made and man-centred.
Two Types of Prayer
There are two dimensions to prayer: earthly, fleshly prayer, or God-centred prayer. Fleshly prayer has no effect in the spiritual realm for it is centred on self and only the immediate and the tangible.
Pride is the top sin for it leads to every other vice. It is a complete anti-God state of mind as is seen in the five ‘I wills’ of Satan, Isaiah 14:13,14. Prayer is not about ‘I want, I need…’ Earnest prayer seeks the will of the Father, as Jesus taught, John 5:19.
Talking to God should be about finding out what God wants for us and from us, not what we want from God. At His invitation We participate in His heavenly work on earth at His invitation.
True prayer has the power to move things in the spiritual realm. Jesus said we could move mountains and nothing will be impossible to us if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, Matthew 17:20. Christ is the Author and Perfector of that faith, Hebrews 12:2.
Heavenly Authority
God created man in His image and gave man the supernatural ability to rule and reign over all the earth, Genesis 1:26. Adam, before he sinned, was able to operate from the higher spiritual realm, not just the natural realm.
The follower of Christ is a fellow-heir with Christ, Romans 8:16, with the same supreme authority Christ has. Our life is hidden with Christ in God, Colossians 3:3, and we are His ambassador through whom the King of King speaks. Whatever He has or is, we are, when we set our mind on the things above, not on the things of the earth. We are a conduit through which the Lion of Judah roars.
When we pray spiritually, power emanates from God’s presence. Even nature will obey, for your voice commands the authority of heaven. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much, James 5:16.
Presence of God
God will never desert us, nor forsake the believer, Hebrews 13:5. To pray without ceasing is to be hungry for the manifest presence of the Almighty God. Look beyond the present and lift your mind into the spiritual realm.
Prayer is the response to the manifest presence of the Almighty God and the source of all power. It is in fervent, earnest and burning prayer that you connect with the Spirit of God and reach into the heavenlies. It is where the body, soul and spirit are totally surrendered and enveloped by the presence of God and our soul unites with the Spirit of God, 1 Corinthians 6:17.
Spiritual Battle
To pray without ceasing is to be aware of the constant battle that is taking place in the spiritual realm through the evil schemes of Satan. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers. Against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, Ephesians 6:12.
Jesus said to the Laodicean church, ‘You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth,’ Revelation 3:16. We cannot afford spiritual complacency, for true prayer dismantles Satan’s operation and undermines his influence.
Authentic Worship
Ernest prayer is true worship of God on the deepest level. God is spirit and His worshippers must worship the Father in spirit and in truth, John 4:26.
As a man thinks within himself, so he is, Proverbs 23:7. I challenge you to worship earnestly, then watch what God will do.
Pray in the Spirit
The death and resurrection of Christ gives the believer the right to draw near with confidence to the throne of God’s grace, Hebrews 4:16. The Psalmist wrote, ‘deep calls to deep, Psalm 42:7, and God communes with our spirit through His Spirit.
Spiritual prayer is the powerful weapon. Praying in the spirit is easy when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is as natural as speaking in your native tongue and you can do it anywhere, anytime.
To pray ceaselessly in the Spirit is to be transported to another dimension. In the presence of God you are positionally seated in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 2:6.
Pray Without Ceasing
You naturally speak to those who are around you. Praying without ceasing is to talk to God about everything. Your mind is always thinking, so why not put God at the centre of your thinking?
To pray without ceasing is to be constantly aware of the presence of God Almighty, as you give yourself over to the will and desires of God. Only then can you speak with true authority as you heed the still small voice of the Spirit.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. To pray without ceasing is a privilege. As authentic followers of Christ Praying continuously is not a chore but a delight.
Check out our other posts at Whispering Encouragement. We are here to inform and encourage. Subscribe for free so you can keep up to date with topics that interest you.
________________________Whispering Encouragement_______________________
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.