He's Listening!

There was a five-year-old girl who had a habit of making very long, drawn-out prayers at bedtime. Her mother, considering her prayers to be a nightly stall tactic, tried to shorten them by saying “Amen” during a slight pause. However, the little girl continued on. At another pause the mother once again said “Amen.” This time the little girl immediately said, “Dear God, don’t pay any attention to Mommy. She doesn’t know when I’m done.”

Jesus taught against the idea that we are heard for our many words. ( Matthew 6:7) He then gave a brief model for prayer. ( Matthew 6:9-13) However, is it really a matter of whether our prayers be long or short? We have examples of Jesus Himself praying short (i.e. Matthew 11:25-26; Matthew
26:39,42,44) and long (i.e. Luke 6:12; John 17) prayers. He also prayed the same thing more than once. ( Matthew 26:44) On that occasion Jesus was not offering vain repetition or empty phrases of which He taught against, but rather it was prayer marked by the intensity of the situation. The words of prayer are to possess substance and have a proper heart behind them. Then does that mean WE ARE DONE?

Paul encouraged the spirit of prayer in these words:
“PRAY WITHOUT CEASING” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV)

In the Greek there are only two words in this verse: “unceasingly pray” and “pray” is in the imperative. We are to do it and do so UNCEASINGLY. This would seem to indicate we are NEVER DONE with prayer. It is not that we walk around with our eyes closed, head bowed, and hands folded all the time. That would make driving and walking perilous as well as limit the works of our hands. Rather, UNCEASINGLY is the spirit of a proper prayer life. It is an attitude for living. It is a constant awareness of life being lived in the presence of God and a consciousness of the need for His constant guidance and support. It is the recognition that His line is always open for our communication with Him wherever we are twenty-four/seven.

Like the little girl mentioned above, others may not know when we are done. They may also be unaware when we have begun. But God is always attentive. ( 1 Peter 3:12) May we be strengthened by His abiding presence as we live our lives in the spirit of UNCEASING prayer.

Have a great day IN CONTINUAL COMMUNION WITH GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Prayer