This command given to us in a letter to the church in Thessalonica, written by St. Paul with Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 5:17), is a tall order. Consider a mother with a babe on her lap, cell phone in her ear, computer at her side, doorbell ringing, husband busy elsewhere, in calm devotion to her Lord, praying. Yeah, right. Yet it is what God is saying to us: “Pray continually.”

If we are to follow God’s instruction, let’s consider the nature, posture and purpose of prayer. Prayer by its nature is conversation with God. Its posture is one of reverence – for we are speaking with God Almighty. Its purpose is to strengthen our relationship with God.

We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.   —1 John 4:13-16

The 1959 Broadway hit song “Together (Wherever We Go)” is more in tune with the nature of God’s closeness to us. Point being: God is always with us. He watches us shine like stars. He watches us fall into sin. He’s with us everywhere, always. Wherever we go—whatever we do—we’re together.

As we think of God as a constant companion - a beautiful, loving Holy Spirit which dwells deep within us - it is more understandable that we could and would be communicating with Him at all times, in prayer at all times.

Would you behave with implied absence sitting next to your best friend? How then can we ignore the living God dwelling inside us? Yet so often we do! We exist as though God were but a holy helper waiting on a shelf to be asked for His comfort and aid. This is not what St. Paul commands or what God intends.

The nature of prayer set fourth in 1 Thessalonians can be a constant stream of thought flowing to and from God’s mind to ours and from ours to His.

Using this new vision, I often share the glory of a sunrise, deep concern, nature’s magnificence, or nagging doubt with God in real time—anytime. I have found that this has improved my thought life as well as my prayer life. My prayers are more genuine and spontaneous. I spend less time musing on the nonsensical and more time dealing with the stuff of life that matters.

However, we must not forget Jesus’ instruction to faithfully and frequently pray in a place of quiet and solitude. That’s what He said, that’s how Jesus lived. It is essential to make a special time just for God (Matthew 6:6).

“Pray continually.” Alone in my room, or quietly in my heart on a busy street, God is with me. His Holy Spirit guides me. Jesus loves me. Continually in prayer and praise I can give thanks to God that I am a child of a heavenly Father who is with me wherever I go!

Copyright © 2008 by Waters of Life^TM Ministry for Women, Inc., www.wolministry.com Share