Jason Glas

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Have you ever come across this verse and wondered, “How do I pray without ceasing?” Well, if you have, no worries because you are not the first. Is a call to constant prayer just an overstatement from an over-enthusiastic apostle who is out of touch with everyday life? We could be tempted to think so, especially in a Christian culture that struggles with consistent prayer in our daily lives. Our prayers are often short or limited only to occasions of crisis or need. In a world of constant distractions, how can we be expected to constantly pray?

The call to constant prayer is not just a one-off passing exhortation. The Bible not only exhorts us in 1 Thessalonians but elsewhere (Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2), and the apostle Paul practiced what he preached (1 Thess. 1:2). It is not an isolated command in the Bible, but it is mentioned frequently both in exhortation and by example of something we should do. By the way, we are tempted to view a call to constant prayer as a negative discipline. We can treat it like something else I must do as a Christian but keep failing at it and therefore give up. Rather than thinking of the command toward constant prayer as a challenge however, let us think of it instead as a privilege. Matthew Henry remarked that it is a “shame to us, that God is more willing to be prayed to, and more ready to hear prayer, than we are to pray.” Let us change our view on constant prayer to see it as a benefit from God’s grace that He makes approaching His royal throne through Jesus our Great High Priest so accessible.

Pray without ceasing

We find this exhortation at the conclusion of 1 Thessalonians. The apostle Paul included it as part of three commands which define actions Christians are to maintain: Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:16-18). The final clause of v. 18 is helpful because it applies to all three commands. People are always asking, “What is God’s will for my life?” Well, here it is, rejoice, pray, and give thanks all the time and in all things. Does this sound like a tall order to fulfill? If so, do not be discouraged.

These verses are ultimately about our heart attitude. By heart attitude, we mean the posture of the human heart. This is not a superficial happiness for people who tend to have bubbly personalities. This is a command for Christians of all personality makeups: quiet, loud, introvert, extravert, negative Nancy’s and fussy Frank’s, all of us who belong to Jesus are to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in everything. Why should we not? After all, we have been redeemed with something of greater value than anything on this earth, the innocent blood of the spotless Lamb of God (1 Pet. 1:18–19). That alone should put a smile on your face to rejoice and have a thankful attitude. So that takes care of two commands, but what about constant prayer?

To describe constant prayer, let us use an analogy the apostle Paul provided about the nearness of God in Acts 17:28, that in God we live and move and exist. This should practically guide our thinking that in all places, all times, all circumstances, all situations, and in all phases of our day, we live, we move, and we exist in Him. This is what we refer to as living coram Deo, a Latin phrase meaning before the presence of God. In other words, we are never at a time, place, or activity where we are not before the Lord. He is always watching, always near, and always sovereign in whatever we are doing in public or private; there are no secrets before Him. This should strike a balance of both fear and comfort in us. We are always accountable to Him, yet the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Ps. 34:18). Living coram Deo reminds us that He is always near and never far, that He is our Father and we are His children, that His eye is always watchful and we are never hidden, that He is king and we are His subjects, that He loves us even when our hearts are prone to wander, that He knows our joys, pains, griefs, and sorrows, and that we need Him. Constant prayer is a theological confession. It confesses the truth that we are always before God, He is always near, and we are completely dependent upon Him. Constant prayer confesses we need Him every hour.

So far, so good, right? Practically, however, how do we pray constantly? First, we should acknowledge no prayer types are being ruled out whether it is corporate prayer in gathered worship, prayer in our devotion times or daily routines, prayer in small groups, prayers with other believers, prayers of thanksgiving whether over meals or occasions, etc. All of these would fall underneath the category of pray constantly, but another kind is important here too that likely captures the spirit of all three commands. It is what we call instinctive prayer.   

Instinctive prayer is as natural to the mature Christian as the medulla respiratory function of your brain that causes you to breathe automatically. The more we grow in our Christian faith the greater our consciousness of living coram Deo. The greater our consciousness of living coram Deo, the more automatic praying becomes. Prayers become more frequent, spontaneous, and unplanned. Sometimes they are out loud, sometimes prayed in the heart, and sometimes with groanings of suffering that are too deep for words (Rom. 8:26). They might happen while driving, before a meeting, losing the car keys, thinking of someone in need, moments of thankfulness and praise, times of hardship, times of joy, before that important business phone call, before that test, during a conversation, after receiving news, moments of uncertainty, moments of temptation, need for wisdom, times of loneliness, or intercession for others. The mature Christian life leads toward a heart attitude of constant prayer.

Constant prayer confesses submission and humility before our Lord because we are always dependent upon Him. Constant prayer is looking to Christ as our king, savior, judge, and friend.

Prayer must become a reflex

Prayer is our first reaction to good news or bad, praises or hardships, and joys or trouble whether it is about ourselves or on behalf of others. To pray without ceasing is to recognize that most of our prayers will be unplanned prayers and instinctive to daily life no matter what situation we find ourselves. Under our breath and in our thoughts, we are always praying. It is the ultimate expression of being poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3), humble.

Before anyone thinks the command to constant prayer is too lofty, we should keep in mind the apostle’s exhortation to always rejoice, pray, and give thanks was written to the church in Thessalonica. This is a church who faced intense persecution (Acts 17:1–9; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thess. 1:4–5). Family, neighbors, and friends turned on them for believing the gospel. They lost their jobs, some of them lost property, and they often could not buy or sell basic goods because they were ostracized by city officials and merchants. We must not think that these commands are out of touch with reality; if anything, they show what should be our reflex in the reality we live. Living coram Deo is learning to trust and lean on the Lord in everything, everywhere, every circumstance, and in all times. May the Lord help us to have this reflex, the automatic instinct of constant prayer! Those prayers may come in a season of judgement (Isa. 26:16), a moment of deep distress (Ps. 39:12), a time of intercession for others (Dan. 9:3ff.), in a surge of anxiety (Phil. 4:6), in compassion for someone’s salvation (Rom. 10:1), or in a time of worship (Ps. 141:2). Regardless of where we are, who we are with, what we are doing, or when we are doing anything, let us pray our faith will be mature enough that we could live every moment in an attitude of constant prayer knowing that in God we live, move, and exist. We are accountable to Him, always before Him, and, because of the work of our Lord Jesus and the giving of His Holy Spirit, the Lord is near to us.

The end of all things is near, therefore think straight and be clear-headed toward the purpose of prayer (1 Pet. 4:7).  

Pray the Lord

• Will continue to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 12:1-12)

• Will keep us always looking to and living before Him (Ps 16:8; 25:15)

• Will deliver us from a love of the world and set our minds on things above (Heb 13:5; 1 Jn 2:15; Col 3:1-5)