The Power of Unceasing Prayer

The Power of Unceasing Prayer
Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5 v 28

This is one of the shortest uni-verses but it has the greatest significance. Prayer is the equivalent of spiritual breathing. It is what keeps us in continual fellowship with the Spirit of God. It is what sustains us and keeps us spiritually alive. It is the deepest level of communication and being. It is wireless, hands free and has no strings attached. It can penetrate the thickest skull, the hardest heart, solve the toughest issues of life. It can be done without words but never without a feeling of love and reverence towards our gentle Saviour and Almighty God. We pray not to receive answers but as we believe in our Redeemer God, Our Ebenezer or Helper, Our Immanuel or indwelling God, our Adonai or ruler.

When we read the Word, oxygen or power from the very mouth and nostrils of God is released into our hearts, minds and lives. When we pray, we release the same power into the world and the lives of others. Just as we cannot take a break from respiration, we cannot take a break from praying. The practice of continual prayer is one unction or anointing that I sought and exercised over the past twenty plus years. Every thought, desire and word is made captive to the Lord through the process of prayer. Every breath is a prayer of praise and acknowledgement of the Lord. The Lord has also confirmed that He accepts my thought life as prayer for He once said, “ My servant Daniel used to pray thrice at set times but you are praying all the time.”

Continual prayer is clinging to the hem of the cloak of Jesus, the presence of God. Every sigh and moan is accounted as prayer. Continual prayer is continuous awareness of the presence of God which automatically means continuous worship, praise, thanksgiving and adoration. It does not mean that we are on our knees all the time but that we replace our internal self talk that is continuous and unceasing with God talk or talk with the Lord. When we pray without ceasing, we are also constantly letting out the negatives and bad qualities that are embedded in our human nature. A continual exchange takes place in the spirit between our inner being and the Triune God. We will increase from moment to moment in grace, truth, power, wisdom and the fruit of the Spirit. We will never feel alone or forsaken at any point. The continual communion with the Spirit will feed our spirit, minds and bodies. Our faith so strengthened over a lifetime can move mountains as well as stars out of its orbit.

Prateep V Philip