Pray Continually
TENDER CLOSENESS WITH GOD
To pray continually is to reorient from task to presence – less about constant communication than about abiding presence – leaning into a quiet and tender closeness with God.
Be joyful always. Pray without ceasing … 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ESV
For centuries, followers of Christ have asked what it means to pray continually.
SCRIPTURE SAYS:
- Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion … Ephesians 6:18 NLT
- And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus … Colossians 3:17 NIV
- So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
- … be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 ESV
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
- Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 NIV
- Be joyful always. Pray without ceasing … 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ESV
To pray continually is to reorient from task to presence – less about constant communication than about abiding presence – leaning into a quiet and tender closeness with God.
WHAT DOES PRAYING CONTINUALLY LOOK LIKE PRACTICALLY?
According to John Piper, “… there is a spirit of dependence that should permeate all we do. This is the very spirit and essence of prayer. So, even when we are not speaking consciously to God, there is a deep, abiding dependence on him that is woven into the heart of faith. In that sense, we ‘pray’ or have the spirit of prayer continuously.”
When life gets challenging, when grief starts nipping at my heels, when there has been too much emotion for too many days, my coping strategy is to step outside. Though I don’t pray with words at those times, what my heart longs for is God’s Presence. I wonder sometimes if God simply delights in us when we delight in His creation, if it fills His heart when we come with no agenda or questions or doubts or frustrations, not wanting or needing anything, beyond His Presence.
Dr. Melinda Quivik offers a beautifully simple definition of prayer beyond words: “Prayer is recognizing that daily life is ennobled and made gracious when we place ourselves in God’s hands.”
HOW TO PRAY CONTINUALLY
A PLACE TO BEGIN
PRAY
- When you wake. Use your first waking moments to connect with God and set the tone for a new day.
- As you brush your teeth. Pray the words of Psalm 19:14: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
- When you eat. Thank God for nourishing your soul as you nourish your body.
- As you clean. As you dust, vacuum, or organize, thank God for the gift of a safe place to live.
- Giving thanks. Thank God for the gifts all around you – another day, your home, pets, loved ones, friends, food, water, electricity, heat, His Word, your doctors, your church. Not sure where to start? Close your eyes. When you open them, thank God for the first five things you see.
- As you move. Use the time you walk or climb the stairs or exercise to pray for those in need. Need a few fun tips? Learn more about movement and prayer – #StepRepPray
- As you drive. Pray as you wait at a traffic light or for a train or in the carpool line.
- Through your day. Pray as you fold the laundry, wash the dishes, make the bed, answer email, pay the bills, prepare meals, take your meds, or empty the trash.
- As you wait. Pray while you wait in line at the grocery store or drive-thru, pray for the cashier or those in line behind you.
- As you fall asleep. Thank God for the day, for your bed, for a soft pillow, for a sound night’s sleep.
Prayer
Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him. St. Augustine
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Prayer is...
Prayer is not what is done by us, but rather what is done by the Holy Spirit in us. Henri Nouwen
#STEPREPPRAY
#StepRepPray is an invitation to meet with God in movement. Always at the pace of grace. With each step or every rep, seek God’s guidance, worship and praise Him, thank Him for the gift of movement, and lift your heart in prayer for others.
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Timothy Keller
Christians are taught in their churches and schools that prayer is the most powerful way to experience God. But few receive instruction or guidance in how to make prayer genuinely meaningful. In Prayer, renowned pastor Timothy Keller delves into the many facets of this everyday act.
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Angela Ashwin
All prayer is concerned with healing in its fullest sense, as whenever we pray, we open ourselves to receive God’s transforming love. The prayers in this exquisite collection recognize that each of us is bruised, weary, or hurt in some way, and that strong or weak, we stand alongside each other in our common need of God’s forgiveness and love.
The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life
Henri J.M. Nouwen
For Henri a life of faith is a life of prayer. Drawn from many decades of his life, the compilation of Henri’s thoughts, feelings, and the struggle with prayer, reveal the core of the man and his belief that prayer is the only necessary thing.
Barefoot in My Heart: Starting a Fresh Conversation with God
Jill Briscoe
The conversations between Jill Briscoe and her Father in Heaven are intimate, warm, and full of surprises. To cope with these many pressures, Jill has found joy in stretches of candid, personal, intercessory prayer, which forms the basis for the conversations in this book.