Continual Prayer Be joyful always; pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, niv) I once heard of a deacon’s meeting that was steeped in controversy. The arguing had reached a fever pitch and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t seem to come to an agreement on some key issues. After a long and heated discussion, one of the deacons suggested, “Why don’t we pray about it?” Another man took a deep sigh and said, “Has it come to that?” Funny how often we see prayer as a last resort. When all other options have been exhausted, and no stone has been left unturned, we lean back in our chair and think, Maybe it’s time to take the matter to God. You never know; it might help. When all else fails, we might as well pray. We don’t usually articulate it that way, but our actions spell out our feelings pretty clearly. “Be joyful always; pray continually,” writes Paul, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, niv). If we see prayer as a last-ditch effort during times of trouble—something of an emergency hotline—then that’s all God will ever be to us. Our relationship with him will remain distant and fearful. We’ll look at him as a rich uncle that we only call when we’re in desperate need of help. But that’s not who God is, and it’s certainly not how he wants us to see him. God is our Father. A loving and involved parent who wants to be an integral part of our life. He cares about every aspect of our day, no matter how small. Billy Graham tells the story of a young president of a company who instructed his secretary not to bother him during the morning hours of each day. He had a standing appointment that he refused to miss. One day the chairman of the board came to speak with him, and the secretary caught him at the door. “He cannot be disturbed,” she told the chairman. “He has an important appointment.” The angry chairman wouldn’t take no for an answer, so he burst through the president’s door to find him on his knees beside his desk. He was praying. The chairman quietly backed out and closed the door softly. “Is this usual?” he asked the secretary. “Yes, he does that every morning,” she answered. As the chairman walked away, she heard him say under his breath, “No wonder I come to him for advice.”
Today’s Reading Matthew 6:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 Reflection How would you describe your prayer life? How might God have you pray differently?
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