Health & Fitness
The Seeker's Devotion
I am always in constant prayer. Constant prayer means constant power.
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The Seeker's Daily Devotion
Constant Prayer
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August 20, 2012
Today's Scripture Reading
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1 Thessalonians 5 (NIV)
Focus Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
...Pray continually...
What did Apostle Paul really mean when he said pray continually?
I am always in constant prayer. Constant prayer means constant power. This habit has been developed out of necessity over my lifetime. I know that there are people who feel most confident praying at dedicated times of the day or only in certain sacred places. I am grateful that my life journey has required a constant neediness for God.
The focus scripture reminds us that we must be in continual, unrelenting conversation with God. This reminds me of our use of the social networking phenomenon. We are in constant contact with their friends through Facebook and Twitter. We know each others every move and mood. A sense of dependency and community has grown out of this technology. God craves this same type of intimacy from us. Our miseries are melodies to Her ears.
Prayer is not a numbers game. We can't create flash mobs to increase the odds of God answering our prayers. Constant prayer is very personal. Unlike my friends, I know now that God is interested in the most minute and inconsequential aspects of my life.
What I know for sure is that God hears even our unadorned and even unspoken prayers. Prayers do not have to be long and lyrical. A two word prayer, like Help me, is as clearly and completely understood by God as a bishop's soliloquy.
I challenge you to experience non-traditional expressions of prayer and learn how
to pray in non-traditional settings. I enjoy Taize prayer. It involves scriptural
repetition and extended silence. This silence is a simple holding of myself in
God's presence and letting Christ, through the Holy Spirit, pray in me. When we
purchase our first property, I can envision our church having a Taize garden where people from the community can come and pray.
Prayer
Our Mother/Father God, Give me the wisdom to be always in communication with you. So that when I am afraid, I pray; when I am lonely, I pray; when I feel thankful, I pray; when my children disappoint me, I pray; when I am joyous, I will pray. Amen.
Shalom,
Pastor Addie
