Unceasing Prayer

In today’s world, we're constantly communicating—talking to others, texting, scrolling through social media, and even having internal conversations. It’s easy to forget just how powerful words can be. In fact, the average person speaks about 34,000 words a day. That’s a lot of words! And it begs the question: How many of those words are positive? How many are negative? And how many of them are focused on something deeper, like prayer?

Prayer isn’t about obligation. It’s not a task to be checked off a list; it’s about relationship.

So many people struggle with prayer. You might feel guilty at times for not praying enough or for not praying in the “right” way. It can be easy to think that prayer needs to be formal, structured, or something done in a quiet place for a long period. But prayer isn’t about perfecting the words you say; it’s about being in constant communion with God, throughout your day. Prayer doesn’t need to be a grand event or a lengthy speech—it can simply be a moment of connection, a word or thought shared with God.

Pray continually. -1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying continually doesn’t mean you need to be on your knees all day, but rather that you should make prayer an ongoing part of your life. It’s about turning your heart toward God, being mindful of His presence in your day-to-day moments, and not worrying about whether your prayers are perfect or long enough.

Prayer doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be real, honest, and from the heart.

Prayer can be as simple as sending a quick, heartfelt message to God throughout the day. Just like how you might exchange a few words of love with your spouse or a close friend, you can send a few words of gratitude, a prayer for guidance, or a quiet thought of thanks to God. It doesn’t need to be formal or planned out; it’s just about staying connected with Him, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

This idea of "unceasing prayer" is really about having moments where you intentionally acknowledge God’s presence. Whether you’re driving, working, or even just taking a break, you can make it a point to pause for a moment of prayer. It can be something as simple as saying “thank you, God,” or asking for peace and clarity in the moment.

One challenge to consider is to use moments when you reach for your phone—something you do almost automatically—as a trigger to pray. You probably check your phone countless times a day, and each time, it can be an opportunity to pause, take a deep breath, and pray. Think of it as a “Holy Pause” (or “Statio” in Latin). It’s a moment to stop, check in with God, and realign yourself with His presence. Just as you mindlessly grab your phone, you can intentionally grab a moment with God. When you make space for prayer, it transforms the way you experience the world around you.