I have to look in the mirror on this one to determine and adjust my approach to prayer. I find myself praying at the times when it is “scripted” to do so; in the morning and at night, at meals, before traveling, and in church. I look at this approach and see that in some cases I am praying four to five times a day. That seems pretty good and in thinking of other relationships I have, my conversations with God far exceed those others. But is that really constantly praying?
“12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” – Romans 12:12 (ESV)
The verse above comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans. In this passage he is outlining the “Marks of the True Christian”. There is a lot more to this passage as at one point I did a 17 day study and writing of the full passage from verse 9 through 21 of chapter 12. I have to believe that Paul meant in the verse above to pray more than four to five times a day. I have notes of my thoughts to “stay in constant communication with God”. As a “True Christian” I have to be the example of what right looks like and walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
Now I do know that I am not always the “scripted” praying Christian as I have many a time where I have stopped to pray for someone or some situation in the moment. Yet, I also know that those times are not common enough in my work for the LORD. I have to constantly pray and communication with God. I should be praying for my walk in the mornings (and even during). I should be praying as I begin a new task. I should be praying at the end of a task. I should be praying when I think of another person. I should be praying in and around all situations I encounter and those where I am sitting idle.
Being constantly in prayer is not constantly sticking to the scripted times to do so. Being constantly in prayer is keeping the line open and speaking with God any time there is something that comes to mind. I think about when I was a teenager and on the line with the girlfriend and not saying anything but just breathing. Yet I knew that she was there on the other end of the line to chat when something came up. The relationship and the communication line with God is so much more important than that. He is there to listen and guide me. He is there to comfort me and carry me. He is there always and wants to hear from me. Be constantly in prayer.
What does constant prayer look like to you? Are you praying according to the scripted times and reasons? What if you just constantly prayed to God in and around all times in your life, no matter how “important” they may seem?
Trevor's Thoughts 