Praying Continually

READ: PSALM 145:19; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13; 1 JOHN 3:1; 5:14

My sister calls me every day around three o’clock. Sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. Sometimes a lot later. Could she be shopping? By four o’clock I start to worry. Perhaps she was in a car accident. Maybe she got hurt. I like to know she’s okay—especially since she lives alone. But there are also times when I’m busy and can’t answer the phone. Then she leaves a message.

We never have to leave a message with God. Unlike with me and my sister, He already knows all the things going on in our lives, but He wants us to tell Him about them anyway—just like a little child tells their parents about the friend who shared a cookie, or comforted them after another child betrayed them. Sharing draws the parent and child closer together.

Sharing can draw us closer to God too. God wants to hear the things that worry us. The things that annoy us. The things that make us sing for joy.

We can talk to God any time. Anywhere. In any language. Even in no language at all—just a longing of our hearts. Or a sorrow too deep for words.

Sometimes we pray because it’s the time we have allotted. Sometimes we pray because someone asks us to. And sometimes we are down on our knees, pouring out our hearts—and our tears—over circumstances beyond our control.

God never tells us to call back later. He never lets our prayers go to voice mail. Not only can we share things with God, we can also ask Him for things. Sometimes we don’t see immediate results from our prayers. Sometimes we never see results. That doesn’t mean God is not at work. He is, after all, God. Whether His answer is yes or no or wait, He is acting out of His unimaginable love for us. How foolish we can be when we choose other activities over communion with the Lord of the universe. • Carol Raj

• When you hear the word prayer, how does it make you feel? Peaceful, annoyed, guilty, frustrated, confused, bored, eager, hopeful…?

• God wants to be in relationship with us because He loves us—even more than a parent loves their child. He made the way for that relationship through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Once we know Jesus, we are brought close to God. And one of the ways we enjoy our new relationship with God is through talking with Him in prayer. If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 62:8; 139:1-24; Matthew 6:5-13; Romans 8:26-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 4:14-16.

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)