"Pray Continually"
1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says, 'Pray continually'.
What does that mean? Obviously we can't go around with our hands together and eyes closed! Maybe it's time to rethink what prayer is first?
If prayer is, in essence, communication with God, how do we do it? Is it merely a set of givens that we say each morning , or when we attend a church service? Or is it more to do with living a life worthy of giving God glory? That's not to say that we must be constantly being seen to be holy Joes, or offering to pray for people on the streets.
I've struggled a lot with the concept of grace - some parts of this grace seem to work in my mind, but others I just can't fathom. When I have been through low patches, stages of real doubt of myself, my faith, my God, somehow I still can't let go of Him. Somehow God seems to still manage to work in me, and through me and, seemingly to others, God is really using me to bless them - despite the fact I'm only going forward to do what I deeply know that is right to do or because it is a part of my 'role'.
I've noticed this recently. Having gone through, and still coming out of, a very hard and dry patch my 'quiet time' (an issue for another blog methinks!) has all but dissipated. My prayer life in the traditional view has not been in real existence for ages. And I can't wrap my head round the fact that God still inspires be, still uses me, still wants to use me. Yet, He does.
I know that I am trying my best to get back 'on track' - whatever that means - and God knows that I am - I know that I am far from perfect, and so does God. I know that I am trying my best to live for Him - and so does He. Maybe this is what praying constantly is: striving to work out my humanity as a follower of Christ the best that I can. Embracing what has happened in the past and taking from it anything relevant to help me move forward and, all the while, acknowledging that in various forms this is the same for everyone, irrespective of belief, background, age, etc - and in doing so, journeying together to a new and amazing place.
What does that mean? Obviously we can't go around with our hands together and eyes closed! Maybe it's time to rethink what prayer is first?
If prayer is, in essence, communication with God, how do we do it? Is it merely a set of givens that we say each morning , or when we attend a church service? Or is it more to do with living a life worthy of giving God glory? That's not to say that we must be constantly being seen to be holy Joes, or offering to pray for people on the streets.
I've struggled a lot with the concept of grace - some parts of this grace seem to work in my mind, but others I just can't fathom. When I have been through low patches, stages of real doubt of myself, my faith, my God, somehow I still can't let go of Him. Somehow God seems to still manage to work in me, and through me and, seemingly to others, God is really using me to bless them - despite the fact I'm only going forward to do what I deeply know that is right to do or because it is a part of my 'role'.
I've noticed this recently. Having gone through, and still coming out of, a very hard and dry patch my 'quiet time' (an issue for another blog methinks!) has all but dissipated. My prayer life in the traditional view has not been in real existence for ages. And I can't wrap my head round the fact that God still inspires be, still uses me, still wants to use me. Yet, He does.
I know that I am trying my best to get back 'on track' - whatever that means - and God knows that I am - I know that I am far from perfect, and so does God. I know that I am trying my best to live for Him - and so does He. Maybe this is what praying constantly is: striving to work out my humanity as a follower of Christ the best that I can. Embracing what has happened in the past and taking from it anything relevant to help me move forward and, all the while, acknowledging that in various forms this is the same for everyone, irrespective of belief, background, age, etc - and in doing so, journeying together to a new and amazing place.
posted by Mark Burgess at
2:57 PM
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