Pray Without Ceasing

The Greek word used here for ‘without ceasing’ is adialeiptos, which means without intermission, incessantly, without ceasing.  Is the Bible telling us that we should be constantly praying? That we should be on our knees in continuous prayer?  Should Christians be walking around with hands folded, heads bowed in constant prayer, bumping into everything?  In this day and age, how can it be possible to be praying continuously?

Obviously the Bible does not mean that we are to pray in formal or noticeable ways every second of the day.  It also does not mean that we should be reciting ritualistic patterns and forms of prayer.

A prayer life is essential to the vitality of your relationship with the Lord and your ability to function in the world.  But what does it mean to pray without ceasing?

By looking at the context that this verse is found, we can tell that it is not to be taken literally.  The passage is referring to an attitude: an attitude of joyfulness (v. 16) and an attitude of thankfulness (v. 18).  How can one rejoice and give thanks?  Through prayer!

Prayer should be a way of life.

To pray without ceasing is to be conscience of God in everything we see and do.  Whether it’s changing the baby’s diaper, or mowing the lawn, or doing the dishes, we should be conscience of God.  Then everything you see or do becomes a prayer unto our Lord.

When we are tempted, hold the temptation before the Lord and ask for His help.

When we experience something wonderful, immediately thank the Lord for it.

When you see evil, ask that it might be used for His purpose.

When you see an unsaved person, pray that the Holy Spirit will convict that soul.

And when you encounter trouble, ask God to be your Deliverer.

Praying without ceasing does not take the place of our regular prayer time, but it does open up our hearts to the leading of God.  All of life’s thoughts, deeds and circumstances become an opportunity to commune with our Heavenly Father, and our mind becomes set “on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

We may not always be able to stop and kneel, but our attitude can still be “praying without ceasing.”

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