PRAY ALWAYS

Luke 18:1-8

He told them a parable on the necessity of praying always and not losing heart. v. 1

Sure, we pray. But do we pray always? Do we lose heart?

Paul echoed the intent of Jesus when he said, "Never cease praying" - "Pray without ceasing" - "Pray continually." To the Ephesians he said, "At every opportunity pray in the Spirit, using prayers and petitions of every sort." He took the parable of Christ on praying always both seriously and literally.

CAN WE PRAY ALWAYS?

But how can we pray always? And how can we pray surrounded by the anxieties and concerns of life? Jesus taught, "You cannot serve both God and money." But he also said we must remain "in the world," even saying, "If you cannot he trusted with elusive wealth, who will trust you with lasting?" Surely Jesus knows you can’t pray and work in the world at the same time. It's impossible to think about two things at once.!

To resolve this conflict, let's look deeper at the words of Jesus and Paul. Notice that Paul didn't just say, "Never cease praying." He also said, "Rejoice always, never cease praying, rendering constant thanks." To Timothy he said, "Be free from anger and dissension." To the Ephesians not just, "Pray constantly," but "Pray in the Spirit."

CONTINUALLY GIVE THANKS

To live in an attitude of prayer we must begin the constant practice of giving thanks. This stirs up the Spirit and dispels anger and dissension. If we thank God for every situation and every person, good or bad, anxiety will disappear and our life will become a constant prayer. This is why Jesus said to pray always and not lose heart. In losing heart we become negative and depressed, which in turn becomes the breeding ground of anger, dissension and all works of the flesh that keep us from constant prayer. We are to "Enter his courts with thanksgiving and songs of praise." By praising and thanking God for every person and situation, our whole day becomes a prayer.

John Michael Talbot