Many have heard the command Paul made to believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing”, but what does that even mean? Is Paul commanding us to do something impossible? To talk to God every second of every day and relinquish our daily duties of working, parenting, or even the rest we often need in life. If he is not giving us an unreachable command, then what is he calling us to do, and why does it matter? To understand this command from Paul to believers is to recognize that it was not arbitrary but a call to a deeper relationship with God. One not based on rituals or rules, but on a deep infatuation and love for God, allowing us to maintain our constant reliance on Him.
Many struggle with the concept of prayer; some use it just as a means to an end, and some just treat it as a ritual to check off a box of duties. But prayer is neither a means to an end, a ritual, nor a duty. Prayer is so much more, and to misunderstand this command by Paul would lead us to have a futile prayer life, no life in it, just vain repetitions or discouragement when our prayers are left unanswered. Paul not only commands us to pray without ceasing, but Jesus himself calls us to pray consistently, using a parable to show the importance of being steadfast in our prayers.
In Luke 18:1, it says, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Further in v. 2-5, Jesus tells them a parable of an unjust judge and a woman who was persistent in her requests to this judge for assistance with a matter pressing to her heart. The judge, although unjust, obliged her requests because of her persistence. Jesus then relates this parable to God in verses 7-8, saying, “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” Our prayers matter to God, and they are not a secondary matter; our prayers are our way of connecting with an all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present God.
Praying without ceasing doesn’t not mean to pray every second of the day, because Scripture also commands believers to work (Proverbs 22:29), rest (Exodus 20:8), serve others (1 Peter 4:10), and even care for their families’ needs (1 Timothy 5:8). So, if Paul and Jesus are not saying to live a life solely dedicated in the act of prayer we need then to examine through Scripture what Paul and Jesus are saying to us believers.
The prayer lives that both Jesus and Paul are calling us to are a consistent dependence on God and His will for our lives. Constantly acknowledging His calling and direction for our lives, and not our own. In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” To grasp the importance of Paul’s command, one first needs to recognize our desperate need for God’s guidance and direction in our lives. We are in such need of God’s direction that Romans 8:26 says, “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought…” Therefore, “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” We often don’t even know what we need or what’s best for us; therefore, through God’s grace, the Holy Spirit intervenes even in our prayers, providing context for what’s best for us.
So, what does a constant dependence on God in our prayer lives look like if we’re striving for perfection in our communion with God? Some practical ways to start cultivating a prayer life to be admired include beginning your day with prayer before reaching for your phone. Pray briefly throughout the day as situations arise. Thank God for both blessings and challenges. Pray before making decisions. End your day by reflecting on God’s faithfulness.
The best example known to man of a perfect prayer life is Jesus’s prayer life and the way in which He displayed it to us. Jesus stayed in constant communion with God. Throughout the Gospels, He regularly withdrew to pray (Mark 1:35), sought the Father’s will (Matthew 26:39), and depended on Him in every circumstance (John 5:19). Through Christ, believers are invited into that same relationship. Because of His death and resurrection, we have confident access to the Father (Hebrews 4:16). Prayer is not a privilege earned by our performance, but a gift made possible through Jesus Christ.