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

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV

I have to admit that I was one of those people who couldn’t even imagine what it meant to “pray without ceasing.”  After all, if I’m praying every moment, how do I have time for everything else I do?  In fact, there are few things that any of us can do without ceasing, because we simply run out of steam. We get tired and we need a break.

After my stroke experience though, I have come to a new conclusion about this passage in Scripture. I look at all the parts of it and smile.  What could be better than learning to rejoice and give thanks all the time? What greater use of time and energy could there be? What else could make more of a difference in the world, or at least in my day, than if I go about giving thanks for all that is, exactly as it is?  And here’s the secret.  If I’m always rejoicing, and I’m always giving thanks, not FOR, but IN, every situation I face, then I’m praying without ceasing.  Therefore, I’m always aware of the part God is playing in my life because we are deeply connected.

When I was asking God to draw near me during my recovery, and when my family was busy thanking God for each step I was able to take, we prayed without ceasing.  When prayers go up, blessings come down!  God blesses you more and more as you continue to pray.  If you haven’t tried it lately, I encourage you now to be a person who is up with prayer every day. 

Prayers go up, blessings come down, that’s the way it works!  Praying big blessings on your life and your recovery today.