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Some Christians ask: How long do you pray every day?
People who ask this question may have the wrong idea about prayer. Some may see it as a religious duty—part of a daily checklist of responsibilities for good Christians. After completing their daily duty, they say:
Finished!
No more talking to God today!
I did my Christian duty!
That smacks of religiousness. Christianity is different.
God may not actually be impressed with our hour-long, two-hour-long prayer times. In fact, He tells us: "Pray without ceasing" in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV). According to this verse, we should be praying all day! But how do we pray without ceasing?
There are at least four ways to ensure you can pray without ceasing every day:
1. Be 'fessed up.
The Lord tells us that if we regard sin in our hearts He will not hear our prayers (Psalm 66:18). If you want to have an open line of communication and pray without ceasing.
2. Be ready to 'fess up when needed.
Christians sin. We live in the world while struggling with temptation to sin. When we do fall, we must be ready to humble ourselves and admit our wrongdoing (1 John 1:9). Otherwise, we get stuck on number 1 above.
3. Whatever comes along, 'tell it to Jesus.'
Living in this world we are plagued with cares (concerns). Why hold them to ourselves? God told us He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). So, when something is bothering you, don't hold it inside, pray without ceasing by sharing your cares with our heavenly Father.
4. Involve God in the major and minor decisions of life.
Every day we make decisions, so why not exercise unceasing prayer by including God in those decisions. Start with something simple like, Lord, what would you have me wear today, as a way to be in touch with Him all day. By coming to God for even the simple decisions that we encounter each day demonstrates a reliance on God.
Prayer is an act of humility (James 4:6). By humbling ourselves and asking God what He thinks our choices and decisions ought to be, we exercise ourselves in unceasing prayer.
A Word About Prayer
Our days should be one long dialogue with God where we have open lines of communication: We tell Him what we think and tell Him our cares, as His Holy Spirit reminds us of His word in response.
We ought to have a dependence on God throughout the day; making requests; confessing; sharing our day with God. This is what we may be missing when asking the question: How long do you pray every day.
Wrap Up
The Christian life is not about checking off boxes each day and saying, I'm done with that today, or doing our duty. The Christian life is about a communicative relationship with Someone who loves you and is always with you (Hebrews 13:5). If you can practice these four points in your Christian walk, you will be on the right path to praying without ceasing.
So, when Christians ask: How long do you pray every day?
My answer: All day!
_____
Author: Jerry S., Pastor, OLBC
Author Bio: Jerry is a bi-vocational missionary pastor-teacher and an avid writer on practical theology currently residing in the Philippines. He has a wide range of experience and education from bachelor to doctorate degrees in various fields and writes articles, blogs, devotions, e-books, academic papers, and more.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
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