I bought a coffee mug at
Cracker Barrell a few years ago because of the message printed on it. “Life is
fragile. Handle it with prayer.” The clincher is the verse at the bottom which
instructs me to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV).
How can I possibly pray
continually through the day when I have other things that I need to do–like a
job or to take care of others? Is it possible? Yes, it is. Because “praying
without ceasing” is a state of mind and a state of spirit. The state of my mind
determines the state of my spirit. If I am yielded to Him, then my mind is also
yielded, and my spirit is willing.
“Praying without ceasing” is not going through my day just
praying and praying and not taking care of the responsibilities God has given
me. It happens when my will (my mind) has been yielded to His will. My mind has
surrendered and has determined to be in a state of anticipated prayer. My spirit
is surrendered to His Spirit, and it is ready at the moment His spirit within me
calls to prayer. When He wishes me to pray, I am at His immediate call. My
spirit rests in a state of anticipated prayer because I have surrendered my mind
and my will.
Life is fragile. I am
constantly reminded of this fact. Friends and family pass away. Accidents
happen. Sickness comes. Suffering comes. Heartbreak comes. But He tells me to
“rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is
God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV). He wants me
to knows that in the fragility of this life, He is the only constant. No matter
what is faced, I will rejoice, and I will pray continually, and give thanks no
matter what comes, because it is His will. But to me it is more than just His
will. It is His promise of peace. Whatever I face, if I have surrendered it all
to Him, through a yielded praying heart, then His peace will rule. (Philippians
4:6-7). And the desire to be on call for prayer will also rule in my heart.
Because I shall have experienced the miracle of His spirit praying through me
(Romans 8:26).
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