When, where and how?
There is no aspect of our spiritual lives which is not touched by prayer. Therefore to “pray without ceasing” is not about non-stop talk to God. The point is that every moment of our lives should be lived in the consciousness of the presence of God.
However, it is helpful to set aside certain times when we concentrate our minds on prayer. The Law of Moses prescribed that the High Priest should burn incense, a symbol of prayer, morning and evening. It is good that we should begin the day with God and that we should review before Him the day’s activities before we go to bed. Mealtimes provide an opportunity, particularly when we are with our families, for more than a perfunctory saying of grace – an opportunity to speak to God with our families about various needs and concerns. Other opportunities will arise in accordance with each person’s circumstances and commitments.
It is not necessary to adopt a particular position for prayer. We may be able to kneel by our bedside at night; in other circumstances we may be standing, sitting or flat on our backs. When Nehemiah stood in the presence of the king of Persia and was given the opportunity to make a request on behalf of his people, he first made a silent request to God for help (Nehemiah 2:4). How well this reveals the practical nature of prayer. There is no circumstance in which it is not helpful.
When we read the life of the Lord Jesus, we see how much prayer was a part of his daily experience, the source of renewal, guidance and strength that enabled him to fulfil God’s purpose. We have glimpses of him on a mountain alone, spending all night in prayer before making momentous decisions, or seeking help before an exhausting preaching tour. If ever there was a man whose life exemplified the power of prayer, it is the Lord. If, as we should, we feel inadequate in our efforts to commune with God and to express those innermost longings that lie in our hearts, then we have the consolation of knowing that if we have given him our allegiance, he will bear our feeble efforts into the presence of his Father, perfecting that which is lacking:
“He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
Sometimes in our personal prayers we may stop because we just cannot find the right words to express what is in our hearts. The Apostle Paul understood this and wrote about it in the Letter to the Romans:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God … Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:25-34)
The Lord who was made like us and understands our weakness is able to help those who are tempted and who fail. He knows our hearts and will, if necessary take our deepest yearnings to his Father even though we cannot articulate them.
Prayer and fellowship
We have an individual responsibility to cultivate the habit of prayer and this responsibility extends to our families. We have already seen that effective prayer must lead to acceptance of the Gospel through belief and baptism, with the responsibilities which follow as a result of becoming members of the family of God. Jesus himself prayed for the effective witness of those who, through the preaching of the word of truth, should be united together (John 17:17-23).
Praying together
People who are united on the basis of the teaching of the Lord must certainly pray together. We read how those who were baptized on the day of Pentecost after the preaching of Peter “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). When the believers met together, as they did on the first day of the week to remember the sacrifice of Christ through the breaking of bread, and at other times whenever opportunity permitted, prayer was a natural part of their worship and witness. Some moving scenes are presented to us in the Acts of the Apostles as the disciples strengthened one another, often in trying circumstances. We read of the Apostle Paul urgently reminding the elders of Ephesus of their responsibilities: “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:36). Later on the same journey, Paul and his companions stopped briefly at Tyre. They did not hesitate to look up the disciples there and when they came to leave, “we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed” (Acts 21:5).
Sometimes a disciple may live in isolation from his brothers and sisters in the Lord and cannot share prayer with them. Visits, letters, telephone calls are all possible to help maintain vital fellowship. But when we can meet regularly together as members of the family of the Lord God we are without excuse if we neglect this. Besides failing in our duty to strengthen others, we shall ourselves be denied the power which comes from united prayer and worship:
“Wherever in the world I am,
In whatsoe’er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate;
A work of lowly love to do
For Him on whom I wait.”
The blessings of prayer
What blessings come from the fellowship which is possible for those who seek the will of God through His word and are united in the Lord Jesus Christ! A study of the lives of great people in Bible times reveals how the practice of prayer was woven into the pattern of their lives. How wonderfully David, for example, was able to triumph over the turmoil of his life and achieve a state of calm and joyful assurance on the basis of his faith in the Lord. The Psalms which he wrote provide numerous examples of the power of prayer:
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him!” (Psalm 34:8)
The Lord God Himself challenges us to test for ourselves the benefits of that trust and obedience which is the basis of true worship:
“‘Try me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’” (Malachi 3:10)
An invitation is extended to each one of us that we, “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” may come to share the hope of the Gospel, as a result of which “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).
Are you willing to pray the words of the Psalmist that follow?
“Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord –
Your salvation according to your word.” (Psalm 119:41)
Bible quotations are from the New King James Version, unless otherwise stated.
