Did you know the Bible says that you can pray continually?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
God loves us, and He yearns for relationship with us! The Bible even says that He's continuously praying for us. (Hebrews 7:25) For our sake, we should have a time set aside each day to pray and read God’s Word, but the longer we follow Jesus, the more we want to get to know Him. This includes growing in connection with God through our prayer life.
But the Bible also talks about praying continually. Can we really do that?
Is Praying Continually Possible?
I don't know about you, but my life is full. Some things I do in my life require my full attention. They require concentration. Other things are not as important, or may require less attention. I find that I can drive and sing along with the radio without too much of a problem.
So, I will use that time to worship or to pray about certain things. But when I'm concentrating, I find it impossible to pray continually. But God says that it is possible to pray continually, especially as we continue to grow in Christ.
Related Post: The Best Way to Think About Prayer
God Carries Our Burdens in Prayer Continually
God understands us and our limitations. He does not want us burdened - instead, He wants to carry our burdens. As we go to God, we should be less stressed and less under the circumstances of our lives. Hebrews 7:25 says that:
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them" - Hebrews 7:25
Intercede is just a big word for pray or to intervene on behalf of someone else. As Christians, we’re all on a journey to become more like Jesus. So, now that we know Jesus carries our burdens in prayer continually, we can choose to pray more, just like Him. As much as possible, we should be setting our minds on heaven, spiritual things, and how to be a blessing to those around us.
As we pray more, we become more like God. We start to give more than we receive (Acts 20:35), and we learn to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).
Bible Verses on Praying Often
The charge to pray continually in the Bible gives Christians several verses to help grow their prayer life. Here are four key verses about continuously praying to help you become a person of prayer.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This verse about praying continually in the Bible comes from 1 Thessalonians. Rejoicing and gratitude are essential to praying continually. In the Bible, praying continually isn’t a challenge or a bar to meet; it’s an invitation to be more like Jesus and focus on heavenly things. Thanksgiving is a powerful and simple way to pray continually.
Learn about the power of thanksgiving in our blog: 21 Bible Verses on Gratitude
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."-Philippians 4:6-7
Verses that ask Christians to pray continually in the Bible also ask Christians not to be anxious. Worry and prayer are like oil and water – they don’t mix well. However, as you learn to pray continually, worry will fade.
Learn more about overcoming anxiety in our blog: 21 Bible Verses for When You Feel Anxious or Worried
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." - Ephesians 6:18
Praying continually in the Bible reminds us not just to pray for ourselves, but also to pray with other people in mind. The invitation to Christians to continually pray is for the good of the world and the good of the Church.
Learn more about why Christians should be alert and how they can be more prepared through prayer: Be Alert & Ready | Bible Verses About Being Prepared
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." - Colossians 4:2
In the Bible, praying continually looks like devoting yourself to prayer. As modern Christians, we can sometimes think of prayer as our prayer list rather than developing a prayer life. Bible verses on praying often remind us that praying continually is possible. As you commit to obedience, embrace our mission, and pursue community, praying continually will be easier, as you’ll be pursuing Jesus and a life of prayer with others!
Ways to Learn to Pray Without Ceasing & Tips for Praying Continually
So, can you really pray continually? I've tried a number of tactics to remind myself to turn to God throughout my day. I used to have a watch that would beep every hour, and I would take a few minutes to thank God for whatever was going on and discuss my burdens with Him. Here are a few of the best ways to learn to continually pray, without ceasing:
1. Start your morning with prayer: Sometimes we forget that waking up is a gift from God. When we remember this, we can wake up, thank God for the breath in our lungs, and begin our day with prayer. Psalm 92 says,
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. - Psalm 92:1-2
Praising God in the morning is an easy way to continually pray and stretch the muscles of growing in your prayer life.
2. Pray before each new thing of your day: In addition to waking up and praying to God, I have learned to continually pray by starting each new thing of my day with a prayer. Before each meal, before each meeting, and before each new thing that I start, I try to remember to invite God into it.
3. Practice praying continually on the Sabbath: When God created the Heavens and the earth, He intentionally rested on the seventh day. Instead of being distracted by social media or watching TV during your day of rest, try to continually pray throughout the day. Remember: prayer doesn’t need to be long or sound awesome. It can be as simple as “Thank you for this coffee,” or “Help me rest today”.
4. Pray before bed: Bedtime prayers aren’t just for kids; they’re also for adults. Praying each evening before you head to sleep is a great way to grow in continually praying. Read some of my favorite Bible verses to read during your nighttime routine in our blog: 10 Bible Verses About Sleep
Conclusion
Praying continually might sound impossible at first, but Bible verses about continuously praying show us we have an open invitation from God to stay connected with Him. He is with us every day, every hour, everywhere we go. Praying continually is as simple as connecting with God. Whether your prayer looks like a quick thank you, a frustrated prayer in traffic, or a deep time of prayer before bed, each time you try to pray, you are intentionally stopping to connect with God. As you take small steps each day to build a lifestyle of prayer, our team at Ask About My Faith is here to help you on the way.
Further reading on prayer:
Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayer?
11 Bible Verses Christians Should Know About Prayer
Learning to Live Without Fear & Worry
Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer
How to Practice Christian Meditation
How to Have Joy & Peace in Difficult Times
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