Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess.5:17)

Most of us are aware of the verse above. Have you ever considered its meaning? If we think of formal prayer and take Paul’s injunction literally, we could never leave our knees or our prayer closet in which case we could not fulfill a great deal of what Christ has commanded us to do – go and make disciples, visit those in prison, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, cast out demons, etc.

In another verse, Paul counsels us regarding prayer when he says, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph.6:18). In this scripture, the word “times” is kairos. In the original language, kairos does not speak of just any time but speaks of strategic times or opportune times.

Paul is encouraging us to be watchful for significant, strategic, and opportune times to pray for kingdom outcomes as we oppose the enemy. I believe his call to “pray without ceasing” has the same sense. In other words, every time a challenge arises, a temptation floods our minds, the hand of satan is evident, or a need is apparent, etc. then pray.

Remember, it is our prayers that release the power and resources of heaven into any situation. If you are in a war, it is a good practice to shoot anytime you see the enemy or encounter a stronghold. Prayer is our way of shelling the enemy. If the enemy is constantly under fire, he will always be on the defensive rather than launching an offensive. We should pray, then, on every occasion when we sense the presence or work of the adversary.

But what if you find it hard to pray? I love a story I found in a book by Johnathan Welton entitled The School of the Seers (p.40). He writes of an old man who is sick in bed. His daughter asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. As the minister arrived he noticed an empty chair by the bed and the old man felt like he needed to give an explanation. He said, “ I never told anyone this, not even my daughter…But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the preacher talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. I abandoned any attempts at prayer until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and, in faith, see Jesus in the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, ‘I’ll be with you always.’ … So I tried it and I liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”

The story goes on to tell about the afternoon the old man died. His daughter found him dead. As she talked to the minister she reported that there was something strange about the way he died. She said, “Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?” I don’t know about you, but I think that would be a great way to go. Pray without ceasing. Keep the enemy on the run. Pray in your own way but, if need be, pull up a chair. Blessings in Him today.