Prayer thoughts
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Shortest command to pray:
The shortest command to pray is that in 1 Thes 5:17, and probably the most difficult to obey. Can anyone possibly pray without ceasing? What about sleep or work or other necessary pursuits? Paul claimed to pray without ceasing (Ro 1:9; 1 Thes 1:2-3; 2 Tim 1:3). When we think upon this command we believe that Paul was not meaning to never stop uttering of prayers, but to always be in an attitude and relation to God that enables communication with God constantly and not stop our regular times of prayer. Jesus’ words “always pray and not faint” (Lu 18:1, 7) indicate constant times of prayer and not losing heart or hope if answers do not come when we expect them.
Special times of prayer:
Jesus spoke of the importance of intense times of private prayer (Matt 6:6). Those times when as the song writer says, “alone with God . . .” Jesus set the example for during His walk on this earth (Mk 1:35) as He prepared for ministry and those who would be with Him (Lu 6:12).
There is also the importance of group or corporate prayer time (Jam 5:16; Matt 18:19) when we unite to bring new and long standing petitions before God’s throne of mercy and grace.
In Eph 6:18 Paul speaks of praying in the Spirit with all prayer (different types of prayer – intercession, supplication, thanksgiving, praise – as part of our spiritual warfare we are constantly engaged in while living in this life.
When not to pray:
Is there ever a time when we should not pray? Is there any place that God called upon someone to stop praying? In (Josh 7:10) Joshua was instructed to stop praying. Israel had just won a great battle at Jericho and went on against Ai only to suffer defeat. After the defeat Joshua fell on his face before God and began to pray (Josh 7:6-9) and pour out his heart; normally this is proper and prayer at these times is good. But God rebuked Joshua for praying. Joshua should have remembered that God’s promise had a condition (Josh1:8). Since Joshua was the leader, he should have realized that their defeat at Ai meant that there was sin in the camp; but instead he was groveling and complaining about the defeat. After the problem was solved and the victory won, then Joshua gathered the people together and read the law to them (Josh 8:34). In the New Testament, Jesus implied something similar to this principle (Matt 5:23-24).