Pray Without Ceasing

 1 Thessalonians 5:17
We must never forget that prayer is not only for petition, but also for protection and for preparation. Prayer not only gives us what we want; it prepares us for and protects us... from what we don't want.

 In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in anguish as He contemplated the horrors of the cross. All He wanted the disciples to do was to be present and praying. Being God, He knew what was ahead. He knew every detail. And so He prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

All Jesus asked for was some companionship. He didn't need a sermon; He needed some friends. But His friends were sleeping. And this was a direct result of the sin of self-confidence.
The same can be true of us. We pray when we think we need to pray. When a crisis hits, when we get bad news from the doctor, when we are laid off, when we are having problems with our marriage or problems with our children, what do we do? We pray. And that is good. It's what we should do.

But what about when things are going well? When the bills are paid, when the job is looking good, when there is no bad news from any front, do you pray then? Is it because you think you don't need to? Is it because of self-confidence?

Failure to pray actually can be a sin. Sin isn't just breaking a commandment, though it includes that. There is also the sin of omission. James 4:17 tells us, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is.

Are you committed with conviction in prayer? So tell me: What is your prayer life like? Do we pray only when you want something from God or On occassion when thing arises in your life. Do you set apart time in your day for God in prayer? 1 Samuel 12 Israel had demanded a king from Samuel, who had rule over them as one of the judges of Israel. They wanted to be like the other nations. Samuel told them that in so doing they had rejected God as their king. Nevertheless, God was going to give them their king. He says, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” In saying this he is saying clearly that it is a sin for us not to pray.

I'm going to show you a few reasons why prayerlessness is a sin!

1. Prayerlessness is negligence of a divine privilege purchased at a great price (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-20). When Jesus went to the cross, suffered and died, the veil of the temple was ripped into. This signified there would never again be anything keeping man out of God’s presence when we come to Him through Jesus. Not to spend time with God in prayer is to neglect this divine privilege. When we consistently spend time with the Father in prayer we are taking advantage of this great privilege of entering God’s presence (Romans 5:2). Let’s utilize this precious privilege purchased for us on Calvary.

2. Prayerlessness opens the door for other sins (Luke 22:40; Matthew 6:13). Jesus commanded us to pray that we would not be tempted. Not to pray leaves us wide open to temptation and failure. We all experience times of temptation. Regular times, alone with God in prayer, minimizes temptation and failure. I wonder if things would have been different if the disciples would had been praying instead of sleeping (Luke 22:30-46)

3. Prayerlessness proves God isn’t first in our life (Matthew 6:22, 24, 33; 1 John 5:21; James 4:2-5). God demands to be number one in our life. Failure to spend regular times with Him in prayer reveals He isn’t first in our life. However, if we are praying regularly, this proves we are at least attempting to put Him first in our lives. Let’s commit ourselves to spending daily time with God in Prayer.

Saints as a strong Christian believer in Christ myself, I'm convicted and sold out for Jesus with devotion and I am dedication in my prayer life. Every living moment I have to consume myself in prayer, it does matter where I am. God is first. again I ask you. Where do you stand in your Prayer life? I love you all and God bless in the name above all names Jesus! Amen...