PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING, A Christian Contemplation

PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING
The Seeking Mind

A Commentary by Constance Vanides

I am sometimes startled when the Bible tells me something I am to do that seems completely impossible to attain!

Reading Apostle Paul's directive to the Thessalonians, and to us today, has me completely puzzled. How can we spend all our time in prayer, as Paul exhorts us to do?

"...pray without ceasing...."

"...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." (Ephesians 6:18)

What do you think of when prayer is mentioned? What comes to my mind first is Albrecht Dürer's famous sketch (1508) of two hands, palms together. Originally titled, "Hands of the Apostle", it has come to be universally known as, "The Praying Hands." Most can identify with the picture of two palms held together, fingers pointed upward as a position of prayer. Its meaning of self surrender, all fingers pointing to the Father of all creation has been widely accepted as a traditional stance of prayer.

But there is much more to praying always. A.W. Tozer, in his book, "The Pursuit of God" uses the phrase, "Following hard after God!" Seeking God, or seeking more of God can only bring us into that unceasing, always praying mode that we might know Him better.

After all, it is first God's desire to seek us. It is He who puts those thoughts in us to reciprocate, to eagerly seek Him at all times. And we are never satisfied until we can:

"... taste, and see that the Lord is good."

With the corresponding promise,

"But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing." (Psalm 34:10)

When your mind is set on seeking Him, your whole life becomes a prayer. No matter what your bodily position, be it kneeling, standing, arms raised, sitting, lying face-down, prostrate, dancing movements, you are thus praying always. It matters not where we are: in the shower, at a restaurant, outside, at the beach or highest mountain, one's own backyard, alone, or with people! It is in the seeking that prayer is present.

"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

With words of speech or song or total silence dedicated to God, I will pray to the Lord at all times! His presence will forever be with me and I can live in the peace He alone provides!