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By Sidharth Mohandas
“Pray without ceasing.” [1 Thessalonians 5:17]
Many people have felt condemned because they have had the notion that this means they had to be praying 24 hours around the clock. But this is not what Paul was telling those at Thessalonica. There are a number of Greek words used for prayer and those related to it. The particular Greek word used in this verse is Proseuchomai. From my study I came to know that this word comes from another Greek word Proseuche. And this word means to be in a “place of prayer”. In other words, it is to be in an attitude of prayer 24-hours around the clock; to be available for God whenever He wants you to pray His will into any circumstance.
How do we know if we are in this place of prayer? Analyze your first response to a problem. Do you turn to God in prayer or do you turn to other sources? This will tell us whether we are in the place of prayer or not.
I remember hearing a story of a boy and his friend going for mountaineering in Switzerland. As they were climbing, suddenly, as if from nowhere, a large rock came hurtling down the mountainside. This boy was directly in its path. But about a yard away the rock seemed to strike a small protrusion and changed its direction. It crashed into the stream below, missing this boy by inches! Heaving a deep sigh, he said, “Phew! That was lucky!” His friend who had been watching a few yards below replied and said, “Lucky? That wasn’t luck. That rock couldn’t have hit you. I was praying for you”. Would we have done the same if we were in the same situation?
I encourage you to be in this place of availability for the King to bring His will on earth as it is in heaven whenever He wants you to.
Many people misunderstand this passage. I have met people who will stop, bow their head and clasp their hands for every little choice through out the day.
The interpretation of “never stop paying” was what I was taught, too. I did think that this was a bit unrealistic… Thanks for the great article, Sid!
I agree, we should always be ready to pray at any moment. However, when something happens sometimes prayer is the last thing we think of when it should be the first. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is the hardest.
good teaching :]