Pray Without Ceasing

Some months ago, I read and heard about "pray without ceasing" of which I thought that it was expressed figuratively to perhaps show the importance of prayer and that we should have more time for prayer. Just this week, while I was on my way home thinking about different things, I realized I was wrong.

When faced with some temptations that we wanted to get rid off, we would use different means. I would distract myself into other things. A retried archbishop would look at his list of achievements whenever tempted to smoke, and would ask himself if he would be willing to see all of his achievements be gone because of one cigarette. Others would seek the help of a friend. But most of the time we would still see ourselves failing and falling. I realized that our own efforts to fight against temptations are too weak, for we are weak in trying to battle our own weaknesses. We need God to win this battle against sin. For apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5)... No matter how hard we try.



We pray asking and thanking Him for happiness, prosperity, and health. These are the things that we want, but we never ask God to help us do the things He wants... That He help us...

Remain honest and never to lie and to cheat even if it means facing failures and problems

Remain contented and never to steal even if it means facing poverty and sufferings

Remain faithful even if it means facing persecution and even death

We used to ask  for strength, wisdom, and other gifts to be successful, to be happy, to be recognized, to be rich, and to be healthy so that we may enjoy life, living, technology, knowledge, hobbies, experience, relationships, friends, ourselves, and the world.

We know what we need and want, and God knows them even before we ask (Matthew 6:8). But do we really know what God wants? Do we ask God to help us pursue what He wants even if they are not the things we initially wanted?

We need to pray without ceasing because temptations are everywhere and they enter anytime... and because we love Him for He loved us first (1 John 4:19).