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Make Prayer a Priority

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We are told to pray without ceasing and to give thanks in all circumstances with a joyful heart. We can always give thanks for the Lord’s blessings and we can always have a joyful heart because, through Jesus Christ, Heaven is our eternal home. But do we have the discipline and desire to pray without ceasing?

We can start praying without ceasing by thanking the Lord for all His blessings that are so easy to take for granted and by thanking the Lord for His love and eternal life. A thankful heart can increase our faith, leading to a dependent heart which increases our prayer life. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) How can we remain in Christ without communing with Him?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8) If we truly desire to pray without ceasing, we will pray and ask for the Lord’s divine power to help us because we cannot always achieve the Lord’s commands in our own power.

Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you. (Psalm 37:5 NCV) When our hearts depend on the Lord, we will call on the Lord’s guidance and help in virtually all things. We are always seeking to be more Christ-like, and we depend on Christ to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. Since Christ knows us, the situation we are in, and our future, His guidance is a great advantage to us.

When our hearts depend on the Lord, we will give prayer priority and pray without ceasing. When we give prayer priority, we will be closer to the Lord with thankful hearts that depend on His guidance.  We live as the Lord’s servants — being a Light in this dark world — we are guided by the Spirit and we need to pray without ceasing.

Today make prayer a priority with a heart that depends on the Lord. Seek His divine guidance and maintain your heart with His love, peace, and joy.

Prayer:  Lord, my heart depends on you to guide my life in being a Light in this world.  I must remain in Christ to bear much fruit, and I will do this through prayer without ceasing. In Jesus’ name, Amen