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I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Uninterrupted Awareness of God

Unceasing prayer may sound complicated, but it needn’t be that way.

Change your definition of prayer—
less an activity and more as an awareness of God. 
Uninterrupted awareness.

In line at the grocery store you can be thinking,
“Thank you, Lord, for being here.”
Or, doing dishes, “I welcome your presence, Lord.”

Brother Lawrence was a monk who called himself the “lord of all pots and pans.”
In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, he wrote:
“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer;
and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen,
while several persons are at the same time calling for different things,
I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees.”

Besides, it makes more sense to talk to God than mumble to yourself.

Excerpted from:
Max on Life

Be joyful always

1 Thessalonians 5:16

THOUGHT:
   Now wait just a minute.
I have some pretty sorry days!
Things don't always go well for me!
Some of my friends have abandoned me at my worst possible moments.
How can I be joyful ALWAYS?

"Simple, my child," the Father reminds me.
"First, joy is more than always feeling happy, but is instead,
a deep abiding sense of being in God's grace and purpose.

Second, no matter where you are, no matter how hopeless things may seem,
your life is bound for glory -- my glory!"

In the light of these incredible truths, all other things
seem bland, out of touch, and insignificant.

PRAYER:
   O LORD, please give me a clearer sense of your glory and victory.
Please empower my faith to trust the truth of your
conquest over hell. Please fill me with your Spirit and bring forth
your fruit in my life. Please fill my mouth with joyful praise for
all that you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Phil Ware







Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

May the following quote by Octavius Winslow be an encouragement to you in prayer.


Draw near, then, seeking soul, with boldness;
Draw near with the lowly boldness of a child—with the humble confidence of a son.
Dear are you to your Father.
Sweet is your voice to Him.
Precious is your person, accepted in His Beloved.

You cannot come too boldly—
you cannot come too frequently—
you cannot come with too large requests.

You are coming to a King, that King your Father,
that Father viewing you in His beloved Son.

Oh, hang not back.
Stand not afar off.
He now holds out the golden scepter, and says,
“Come near; what is your request?
Come with your temporal want.
Come with your spiritual need.
Ask what you will, it shall be granted you.
I have an open hand, and a large heart.

Octavius Winslow

From Unceasing Thinking to Unceasing Prayer

Our minds are always active.
We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream.
There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking.
You might say our thinking is "unceasing."
Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while;
that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears.
Our ability to think is our greatest gift,
but it is also the source of our greatest pain.
Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts?

No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer
by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God,
who is the source of all love.

Let's break out of our isolation and realize that
Someone who dwells in the center of our beings
wants to listen with love
to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
henrinouwen.org/daily meditation blog