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1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without 
ceasing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) Never stop 
praying, 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Have you ever visited the ocean? The 
constant crashing of the waves is awe-inspiring. The 
ocean continually moves. We see that movement as 
waves pound the beach. And although we can't see 
below the surface, the ocean actually moves faster 
at greater depths. 
   Can you think of other things that keep 
going and going and going? Write down a couple. 
   You might have written down the wind. 
Wind constantly blows near the ocean and at great 
heights in the atmosphere. The sun always shines. We 
may not see it if it's cloudy, but that doesn't 
mean the sun has stopped sending out heat and 
light. The earth also continually rotates and 
revolves. We may not feel it, but our world is 
spinning at more than 1,000 miles per hour, and we're 
orbiting around the sun at about 67,000 miles per 
hour. Time would've been another good answer. Time 
constantly moves forward, ticking second after second 
into the future. 
   God created many things to function 
constantly. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the apostle 
Paul tells us three things we should always be 
doing: rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. 
   Living out that command seems pretty 
impractical. Does God expect you to walk around 
constantly shouting, "Praise God! He is good! I thank 
God for all his blessings"? You could do that, 
but you might get some strange looks. 
   Instead, as followers of Jesus, we should 
look at these things like breathing. We don't 
have to think about breathing - it just happens 
naturally. Similarly, we should pray, praise, and thank 
God all the time. Praying continually doesn't 
mean you have to go around with your head bowed 
and eyes closed (that's just a good way to get a 
concussion). But we should be thinking about God all the 
time and have our thoughts focused on him. We 
also need to be always rejoicing. Maybe you feel 
like there's nothing to be happy about. School is 
hard. You sprained your ankle. You feel like your 
parents give your sister more attention. All of 
these circumstances are temporary (although they 
may not feel that way). Your relationship with 
Christ is eternal. No matter what's going on in 
your life, you can trust that God has a plan for 
you and will give you the strength to accomplish 
his will. And his love for you will keep going, 
and going, and going.  
   Final Word: "Rejoice always, pray 
continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this 
is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 
Thessalonians 5:16-18. [Case For Christ For Kids by Les 
Strobel] 

COMMENTARY

   My grandkids always bust me when I forget 
to pray before a meal, and I love that. 
   We dont always pray as much as we 
ought to. In fact, we could pray a lot more. When 
a crisis hits, what is our first inclination? 
Its to say, God, take this problem away. 
   Sometimes He does. But there are other 
times when He doesnt. The reality is that 
problem, that difficulty, keeps us in touch with God. 
It keeps us dependent on God. And it keeps us 
praying without ceasing. 
   The apostle Paul wrote to the believers 
in Rome, For God is my witness, whom I serve 
with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that 
without ceasing I make mention of you always in my 
prayers (Romans 1:9 NKJV). 
   Then 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 tells us, 
Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; 
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for 
you (NKJV). 
   Maybe youre saying, Pray without 
ceasing? How that is even possible? I have a life. I 
have to go to work. I have to do a lot of things. 
I cant just pray all day. 
   Why not? It doesnt mean you have to be 
on your knees with your eyes closed. It is not 
just a prayer before a meal or praying with other 
believers. Its simply living in prayer, living in 
communion with God. 
   When youre cruising down the freeway 
or stuck in traffic, your vehicle could become 
a sanctuary. It could be a place to hear 
Gods Word, worship the Lord, and pray (just keep 
your eyes open). 
   You can be close to God wherever you go. 
Why? Because the dwelling place of God is with 
us. If you belong to Christ, youre the temple 
(see 1 Corinthians 6:19). So you, too, can pray 
without ceasing. [Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

   One of the greatest drawbacks to the life 
of prayer is that the answer does not come as 
speedily as we expect. We are discouraged by the 
thought, "Perhaps I do not pray correctly," and so we 
do not persevere in prayer. This was a lesson 
that our Lord taught often and urgently. If we 
look further into the matter, we can see that 
there may be a reason for the delay and that the 
waiting may bring a blessing to our souls. Remember 
Daniel, who waited twenty-one days for the answer to 
his prayer. (See Daniel 10:1-15.) 
   When we pray, our desire must grow deeper 
and stronger, and we must ask with our whole 
hearts. God puts us into the school of persevering 
prayer so that our weak faith may be strengthened. 
Believe that there is a great blessing in the 
delayed answer to prayer. 
   Above all, God wants to draw us into 
closer fellowship with Himself. When our prayers 
are not answered, we learn to realize that the 
fellowship, nearness, and love of God are more to us 
than the answers to our petitions, and we 
continue in prayer. What a blessing Jacob received 
through the delay of the answer to his prayer! He 
saw God face-to-face, and as a prince he had 
power with God and prevailed. (See Genesis 
32:28.) 
   Christians, listen to this warning. Do 
not be impatient or discouraged if the answer 
does not come. Rather, continue in prayer. 
Pray without ceasing." You will find it an 
unspeakable blessing to do so. You may ask whether your 
prayer agrees with God's will and His Word. You may 
inquire if it is in the right spirit and in the name 
of Christ. Keep on praying; you will learn that 
the delay in the answer to prayer is one of the 
most precious means of grace that God can bestow 
on you. You will also learn that those who have 
persevered in pleading God's promises are those who 
have had the greatest power with God in prayer. 
[Andrew Murray 365-Day Devotional Bible by Barbour] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   Unceasing prayer may sound complicated, 
but it neednt be that way. Do this. Think of 
prayer less as an activity for God and more as an 
awareness of God. Seek to live in uninterrupted 
awareness. As you stand in line to register your car, 
think, Thank you, Lord, for being here. In 
the grocery store as you shop, think, Your 
presence, my King, I welcome. As you wash the 
dishes, worship your Maker. 
   Brother Lawrence called himself the 
lord of all pots and pans. He wrote, The 
time of busyness does not with me differ from the 
time of prayer; and in the clatter of my kitchen, 
while several persons are calling for different 
things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if 
I were upon knees at the blessed 
sacrament. 
   So talk to God, always. Besides, it makes 
more sense to talk to God than mumble to 
yourself! [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at 
maxlucado.com] 

ONE LINERS

As simple as breathing is in the physical 
life, so will praying be in the Christian life 
that is led by the Spirit. [Andrew Murray] 

We may keep so near to God that in every 
unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as 
naturally as the flower turns to the sun. SC94  

Our failure in the prayer life is a result 
of our failure in the Spirit life. [Andrew 
Murray] 

Any thought of praying more and of praying 
effectively will be in vain unless we are brought into 
closer intimacy with our Lord. [Andrew Murray] 

His life of prayer on earth and of 
intercession in heaven is breathed into us in the measure 
that our surrender and our faith allow. [Andrew 
Murray] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE


http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190819-0859.html 

EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF 
JESUS 

1st of 28: Divine Dining: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY 
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ 
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4 
4th of 28: Cared For: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds 
5th of 28: Saved: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI 
6th of 28: You Can Change: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo 
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc 
8th of 28 Our Holy Father: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY 
9th of 28 Gifts of Service: 
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10th of 28 The Holy Spirit: 
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11th of 28 The Law of God: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI 
12th of 28 The Sabbath: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI 
13th of 28 The Church: 
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14th of 28 The Gift of Prophecy: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiO2VC09NPI 
Live ongoing series in progress.

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs