Pray Without Ceasing

Pray without ceasing

“Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 TPT

Have any of you prayed for something for so long that after a while your prayers aren’t as earnest as they once were or they have stopped completely for it? In some areas, this is where I seem to be right now. 

Last night I was just honest with God as I was praying. I said to God, just listen, it hurts to keep praying this prayer. Not ever knowing if you will answer me. It seems like I have prayed these prayers for so long and nothing happens. I was just having a conversation with God getting my feelings out. You can go to God like this! I was discouraged, that was when the negative thoughts began filling my mind. Things like, “Why do I keep praying for this.” “It’s never going to happen.” “Why would it happen to me, I don’t deserve it.” Even though some of these thoughts might be true, at least to me. They aren’t true to my Heavenly Father. 

God reminded me of a few things in that moment. He never ceases to amaze me. These were things that I needed reminded of!

1. God is the God of hope. 

“Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!”
Romans 15:13 TPT

2. God cares about me. 

“With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me. This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.”
Psalm 139:5-6 -TPT

3. We should pray without ceasing. 

“Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 TPT

4. Any wrongs we have done in the past have been forgiven. They have been thrown into the sea of forget-fullness. So there is no wrongs being held against me. 

“You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Micah 7:19 NIV

God might not answer some of my prayers my way or in my time frame. But I still need to give thanks to Him! Those are things I can’t focus on. They will only stop me! I need to focus on what God is doing in my life. I need to choose to keep my eyes & thoughts fixed on Him. Why? Because God is the God of hope, God cares for me, I can pray without ceasing and God has forgiven me!