Paul Prays Unceasingly

Paul writes “[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Surely, it would be absurd to think that Paul did nothing else but pray. It would also be wrong to think that Paul was exaggerating and stretching the truth.

            To “cease not to give thanks” and “pray unceasingly” meant that Paul’s prayer for the church was not an occasional exercise. It meant that Paul was praying for them regularly. Prayer was part of Paul’s routine. This is the routine that we should emulate in our lives. We must learn to make prayer a part of our daily living.

When Paul said that he “ceased not to give thanks” for the Ephesians, it also meant that Paul persevered in prayer. He never gave up on praying. Paul did not stop praying for believers when they are doing well spiritually. And he did not stop praying for them when they fell. 

To “pray without ceasing” means that prayer ought to be instinctive to the Christian. Just as a child cries instinctively for mother when he is in need, so must every child of God cry to God. Our daily lives must be filled with and injected by brief moments of prayer. It could be a short prayer of thanks to God, a quick praise, a short plea for help and guidance.

Dearly beloved, let us learn from Paul, to pray for and with the church always. Pray for the leaders of the church. Pray for the ministry. Pray for one another. God is faithful. He promises: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). To slacken in our praying is unbelief. To cease praying is not just to give up on prayer but also to give up on God. May the Holy Spirit continue to help us to be constant in praying with and for the church.