And Then There Was Prayer!

Pray without ceasing!  Have you ever tried praying like that? 

As we looked at Acts chapter 12 this week, Pastor Steve shared the story of Peter in prison and how God answered the prayers of the early believers to free Peter.  Every time I read that story I always chuckle a bit.  After all, Peter is sleeping and the angel has to wake him up!  Then we move to the scene at the house of John Mark and the disciples.  Rhoda tells them and they don’t believe that Peter is free.  The power of prayer was boldly seen in chapter 12.  The disciples and Christ followers were in earnest and continual prayer.  Wow!  Prayer was the first thing they did and the last thing they did!  They prayed and they prayed! 

How many times have we turned to prayer as a last resort?  As a final plea for help after all other human means have failed us?  I know I’ve been guilty of that; perhaps you have as well.  How do we become more like those disciples and the early Church, who had very little resources or influence in their society, but they had hearts for prayer and that made all the difference? 

This week, I want you to try something a bit daring, maybe even a bit uncomfortable: pray without ceasing.  Okay, I know what you are thinking.  I have to work, I have the kids to teach and take care of all day.   I can’t pray without ceasing.  Give it a try for one day.  Just one day!  Do a thank-you prayer for one day!  Every time you have a few seconds, between breaths, just offer a prayer of thanks to God.  Your day might look something like this:

Thank you for my office.  Thank you for my cube.  Thank you for my work colleagues, even the ones who drive me nuts. Thank you for this leftover food that I brought for my lunch and for the microwave that will heat it up for me.  Thank you for my car that brings me to work and brings the kids to school.  Thank you, Lord, for teachers at my children’s schools.  Thank you for the bus driver who picks my children up every day.  Thank you for grocery stores.  Thank you for the fresh fruit and the bottled water.  Thank you for my house or apartment.  Thank you for the heat that warms my house.  Thank you for my dinner.  Thank you for running water so I can take a warm shower.  Thank you for my bed.  Thank you for the gift of sleep so I can be refreshed when I wake the next morning. 

I think you get the picture!  Give it a try and let me know how your day goes when you just thank God for things you normally take for granted.  Perhaps we can pray without ceasing.  We just need to put prayer in the front of our minds for a change.  It’s definitely a paradigm shift, but what could happen if we found a way to think about God and pray throughout the whole day?  I think amazing things could happen in our lives and our family’s lives too.

Remember, pray first and pray most! 

Here’s a song by Casting Crowns about what would happen if God’s people prayed! 

To the Glory of God!

Pastor Carol