Embracing A Campfire Faith Through Prayer

So how was it? Trying to pray without ceasing? Easy? Difficult? Impossible?

I am sure the answer varies for each of us.

When I first read this verse many years ago, I admit, I thought it sounded impossible. How can I “pray without ceasing”? How can I possibly pray all the time, when I obviously have to have other thoughts going through my mind as I do life? How can I stay focused on prayer, and still focus on daily obligations?

Maybe this is my simple-mindedness showing through, but I narrowed it down to an answer that I could understand – which was simply – never say Amen.

Just think about it:

When we are finished speaking with someone on the telephone or in person, we say “goodbye”. The word “goodbye”, ends the conversation. Both parties disengage, and move on to something or someone else.

When we are involved in corporate prayer, with a group or another individual, the person praying aloud usually says Amen. This ends the corporate conversation with God, and people move on to something or someone else.

Do we ever want to be disengaged from God? Of course not! Do we ever want to end our communication with God? Of course not! Do we ever want to get up and move on, away from God? Of course not!

So why not just keep the conversation going? Throughout the day, as something comes to mind that you want to take to God – just say, “oh yeah, God, and I also wanted to talk to you about  xxxxx”.  

In doing this, we stay engaged with God, always communicating with Him, always praying, simply through the easy task of conversation. The more we do it, the easier it gets, and before long, it just becomes second nature.

God is always walking right beside us like a loyal and trusted friend, and all we have to do keep the conversation going is acknowledge that to be true, and keep talking to Him.

By not saying Amen until we fall asleep in our bed at the end of the day, we stay connected and close to God – and our faith stays strong – which is the reason He commands us to do this.

We pray not for God’s sake – because He and His kingdom will be the same whether we pray without ceasing or not – but we pray for our sake, because we will never be the same without Him.

Other than the fact that we are commanded to pray without ceasing by God, for our own benefit, there are many other reasons why praying without ceasing is crucial to our faith.

We need God’s power within us to face the difficulties and temptations of life, which we obtain through constant and daily prayer.

God wants us to live by faith, and prayer keeps us on that right track, as we stay plugged in to conversation with God.

Prayer strengthens us to stand firm against the games of the enemy, because the Holy Spirit keeps us grounded and intercedes for us as needed.

Through prayer we can hear God’s voice, speaking to our hearts as we struggle with decisions to make and which paths to take.

My pastor once said that Satan cannot keep God from answering our prayers, but he will do all he can to stop us from praying – because when we pray, the power of God is brought into the situation.

We are called by God to live our life in an atmosphere of prayer every day, and creating that atmosphere begins with acknowledging that God does not need us to pray, but we need to pray in order to keep our faith on fire.

Praying without ceasing keeps our faith red hot, just like throwing fuel on a fire keeps the blazes burning.

Praying makes us strong, on fire for God, inside and out. If we all commit to carrying that “torch” from His fire in our hearts, the world would begin to see a wildfire like never before.

3 Comments

  1. Beatrice on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 12:23 am

    Awesome!!!! i have never been so fired up about praying after reading your blog.you have inspired me to stay focused on praying without ceasing. I love what your pastor said,that satan does not stop GOD from answering our prayers, but he can do every thing he can to keep us from praying.That is powerful information thank you so much for sharing.



  2. Michelle Weber on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    You reminded be of the burn pile we have had for years (and is even especially big at this moment)as we cleaned up a property that people thought we we nuts for buying. We had a vision with it that NO ONE else did. Since we were constantly cleaning up, upclearing out our woods, cutting down dead and unwanted trees and adding them to the burn pile the fire never went out. We could come back after 2or 3 days, even a week sometimes, throw on some new brush or trees and the fire would ignite on its own since it never really went out. Even though it looked like we were going to have to restart it, it would start back on its own since the coals down under were still hot from the previous fire. Before we knew it it would be a roaring fire as it got rid of the things we wanted to get rid of and closer to the beautiful vision we had for this old place. Love the parallel it has to prayer. Keep it burning and it will help you clean out and reach the potential of the vision/God has for you. Awesome post. You really got me thinking today.



  3. Tracie Miles on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Thanks Beatrice and Michelle! I love both of your comments. Lets keep those fires burning!



Headshot Flipped 2

Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

Living-Unbroken-3DwithShadow

Available Now!

Subscribe to Tracie’s Blog

Receive the Living Unbroken Battle Plan Workbook for free if you subscribe to Tracie’s blog today!
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Tracie's Books