Pray As If Your Life Depended on Your Petitions

Daily Devotional – Thursday, February 17, 2021

Pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)

A mine owner stopped operations after coming to the end of a vein of gold. He sold the mine and mining equipment at a throw-away price to someone who wanted to continue exploring. Shortly after, the new guy found a rich vein a few feet below where the previous owner stopped. He made a fortune.

This story illustrates persistence and perseverance, two elements of prayer that we all need to practice. Jesus tells the story of a widow who was so persistent with her requests to a king, that the king ordered his people to grant the woman her request (Luke 18:1-8).

I cannot count the number of times I have given up on a prayer request that God did not answer within “reasonable time”. I still struggle with praying over an issue for a prolonged period if the results are not manifested in ‘my time’.

If you are like me, you need to heed Paul’s advice, “Pray without ceasing”. He knows that God will delay (in human terms) some of our prayers. When that happens, we should not stop calling upon Him.

Prayer is an attitude you acquire and master over time. It does not require a particular pose. You don’t have to kneel, sit or stand. You can pray in the morning, at noon, in the evening, at midnight and in the darkest dawn.  Your house, office, market, vehicle or church can be prayer rooms.  

Luke introduced the Parable of the Persistent Woman with this unforgettable statement, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” Luke 18:1 (NKJV). From today, pray without ceasing because one day, God will answer your prayer.

Prayer

Father, teach me to pray without ceasing.