1th 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Praying ‘without ceasing’ is involuntary.
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
For the heart filled with the Spirit of God…prayer is like breathing….an involuntary response. But our traditions often mislead us about what makes up ’prayer.’ Jesus KNOWS every want of the heart…even
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
before desire becomes thought…before thought becomes ‘deed’. He hears the heart…its desire…the REAL condition at the very core…be it good or evil. (Matt 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?)
The Holy Spirit searches the ‘reins’ and the heart….the deep hidden places of the spirit man…and if He finds pure thoughts…He takes that request to Christ. (Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.)
But if the thoughts (desire) of the heart are evil…that man’s requests are not heard.. They never leave his own room. (1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.)
Very thoughtful! Also, very sobering!
So many people have mentioned to me the practice of praying without ceasing. They say “How can you do that and live a life filled with other things to think about and do. My response is we can’t do it with a second-to-second prayer continuum. It’s an issue of our spiritual position to God throughout each day. But your essay explains it much better than my explanation.
Peace and grace to you, my friend~
Mary
Thank you, Mary. And I’m not at all surprised that you know ‘unceasing prayer.’
Best wishes
Carolyn