Pray Without Ceasing?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“ -1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Pray without ceasing? I have to go to work. I have to go to the grocery store. I have to talk to my family.

Our omnipresent, omniscient Father knows all things. While it's important to dedicate specific prayer time, it's also important to speak to Him continually throughout the day even if it's an internal dialog that is not spoken out loud or in a dedicated prayer space.

As I was going through high school and college I would sit at my desk, in a room full of my peers, looking at every test for a few moments offering a silent prayer before I ever put pencil to paper.

As a parent, when my children are on the road, I'm continually praying until I know that they are have arrived safely to their destination. And I KNOW my wife is doing the same.

Paul is also encouraging the Thessalonians to give thanks in all situations, knowing that God sees our lives more clearly than we do ourselves. Thank God in the good times, thank God in the difficult times, because what we may see as a trial often draws us closer to Him...and what we desire may not be what is best for us.

This week I'm going to focus on deliberately praying without ceasing.