“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I don’t know about you, but the words “pray without ceasing” are almost enough for me to just throw in the towel. There is absolutely no way I could ever pray forever, let alone rejoice forever and give thanks always. These verses sound so much more like ideas then actual commands.

Funny thing is, the more I pray, the more I realize how desperate I am, and in turn the more I want to pray.

Prayer for me comes in many forms. Quick prayers over meals, long prayers with lots of tears by myself in my room, written prayers in a journal I keep with me at all times, desperation prayers for a friends battling cancer for the third time in her short life. There are really countless prayers I could list.

I feel like prayer is so important that it needs its own ceremony. I need to go somewhere special, break open my journal, and pray specific things in a specific order. God can definitely meet me there, but God can just as easily meet me at my desk as I type this blog. He can just as easily speak to me in a moment of silence at a stoplight. The reason why I don’t tend to find God at my desk, or in my car, is because I’m not looking for him there.

The real point of prayer is communication with God. The real reason I don’t have prayer without ceasing is that I don’t try. I don’t give God breathing room. I don’t let him into my every moment. But, that’s exactly where He wants to be.

The more I think about it, I really want to be a person who prays without ceasing.

There is a great story I will leave you with: my friend DJ has been going to our church since 1957. She is who I want to be when I’m old. She has power in her words, love in every hug, and joy in her worship. My pastor’s wife told a story earlier this year about DJ. They shared a room for one night at a women’s retreat a few years ago. DJ warned that she talks in her sleep. The reality is that she goes to bed praying, prays in her sleep, and wakes up praying. Just amazing.

I’m in this journey with you all. Attempting to be a person who is joyful, prayerful and thankful. At the start, I have to have a routine time set aside for prayer. My hope, is that it will become the thread weaving through every part of me, just like DJ.

Will you join me? Advent is a perfect time to get centered with God. That’s what I’m doing. Getting centered, spending my first hour after I get off work with Him. When will you set aside time? What are you doing?

Learning,

Jamie