Always Praying

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times" (Eph. 6:18).

Make prayer an ongoing part of your day.

As important as prayer is to your Christian life, you might expect Paul to list it as another piece of spiritual armor, but he doesn't. Instead, he makes it all-pervasive by instructing us to pray at all times. That's our spiritual lifeline—the air our spirits breathe. The effectiveness of each piece of armor is directly related to the quality of our prayers.

We see the importance of prayer throughout the New Testament. Jesus instructed His disciples to be on the alert at all times, praying so that they would have strength to face the trials and temptations that lie ahead (Luke 21:36). The apostles devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 6:4), as did godly people like Cornelius (Acts 10:2). Every Christian is to be continually devoted to prayer (Rom. 12:12).

In Philippians 4:6 Paul says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." He told the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17) and instructed men everywhere to "pray, lifting up holy hands" (1 Tim. 2:8).

Jesus and Paul not only exhorted believers to pray, but also modeled diligent prayer in their own lives. Jesus often went for extended periods of time alone to pray. Paul wrote often of his own fervent prayers on behalf of others (cf. Col. 1:9; Philem. 4).

As a child, you may have been taught that prayer is reserved for mealtimes, bedtime, or church services. That's a common misconception many children carry into their adult years. But believers are to be in constant communication with God, which is simply the overflow of seeing all of life from His perspective. Just as you would discuss your everyday experiences and feelings with a close friend, so you're to discuss them with God.

God loves you and wants to share your every joy, sorrow, victory, and defeat. Be conscious of His presence today and take advantage of the sweet communion He offers.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God that He's always available to hear your prayers. Ask Him to give you a desire to commune with Him more faithfully.

For Further Study

What do these verses say about the most appropriate times for prayer: Psalm 55:16-17, Daniel 6:10, Luke 6:12, and 1 Timothy 5:5?

[ealgeone]

We are supposed to gather together, especially in the Last Days, to speak of our Testimony. My testimony should edify people, not make them angry. It makes me wonder what spirit is inside them to do such a thing.

We are also told to test every spirit. So far your's is not passing the test as you're in contradiction of the Word.

[boatbums]

Just read your comments to me and see what I see. You are a cruel judgmental poor excuse for someone trying to communicate God's word to another person.

Gee, Chuckles, that's a mighty cruel judgmental poor excuse for someone trying to communicate God's word to another person. Aren't you the one who persistently claims everyone should speak in tongues if they are filled with the Holy Spirit? Just open your mouth and let it flow, right? Didn't you also assert unanswered prayers reflect on the faith of the pray-er rather than on what is or is not within God's will? You really have no clue who Metmom is, the trials she has endured nor the state of her faith. An apology is needed.

[metmom]

We are supposed to gather together, especially in the Last Days, to speak of our Testimony.

Where did God command that in Scripture? You have any chapters and verses to support your claim?

[boatbums]

>>We are supposed to gather together, especially in the Last Days, to speak of our Testimony.<<

Where did God command that in Scripture? You have any chapters and verses to support your claim?

Maybe here:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

We can certainly encourage each other by testifying of the ways God is working in our lives and I think we do that many times even on this site. We share in each others' victories, in times of prayer need and even when we discuss doctrines of our shared faith. We should spur one another towards love and good works as well as in sound doctrine. We are to: hold to whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:7-9)

[boatbums]

Are there real miracles? Oh yes! I have been blessed by such. BUT my faith in HIM is not founded in the gibmedat causemyfaithispure mentality. THAT would mean GOD is a respecter of persons. A sure sign that the experiencers are being deceived is the growing arrogance of their proclamations, the haughty airs of their assertions toward those they accuse of sagging faith that their god will not honor.

I have seen miracles in my life as well - often it's been when I wasn't expecting it but it came at just the right time. Another sure sign when someone is being deceived is to WHOM they give the glory for the miracle. Is the one who prayed, spoke in tongues, laid hands on another, the one who is praised and glorified or is it Jesus Christ - who deserves all glory? Our Heavenly Father delights in blessing us and meeting all our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. Those riches are bottomless and HE is who deserves the glory not me because what I prayed for happened. Human pride is sneaky.

[reasonisfaith]

A test of faith is whether we remember that we deserve eternal damnation in the lake of fire.

Nothing we do saves us from that. Only God’s grace does.

What do I deserve? The worst of the worst. This makes Matthew 5:39 easy to understand.