Never stop praying. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
When times are good, when times are tough, when you need guidance, when you need help, when you’re sad, when you’re happy, when things are going your way and when they are not, and when you just want someone to talk to; never stop praying. In order to establish that deep and personal friendship with God, the communication has got to be constant. The more we pray and seek the friendship of the Lord, the calmer and more confident we become in all areas of our lives. We instinctively know deep down inside that we have something with Him that the world cannot take from us. We have a Friend at our side who will always be there and ultimately all the power of the universe to move mountains, right there with Him. By building that friendship through repeated and daily communication, we feel the assurance of His presence and the resources available to us just by turning our focus to our Friend by our side.
In my own life, I have gone through periods where I wasn’t praying, and boy was I missing out. I went through times where I didn’t pray because I thought it wouldn’t do any good or He wouldn’t help me. I didn’t pray because I was too busy asking others for help, or trying to go it alone in my own strength. But friends, all of this is so backwards and flawed. We need to come to Him and never stop. Even if we feel it’s not doing any good, NEVER STOP PRAYING. There is payoff in the persistence, there is power in the prayers, and there is friendship to be found.
While in those prayers, let’s not forget a key ingredient, to stay in praise. When I’m talking to God, presenting my requests, seeking His help, and going over my day, I make sure that praise is the majority of the talk time. Reflect on who He is and what He has done in the past. Remembering what He has done before can help us to hope for the abundant life with Him in the future. Thank Him for the highs and even the lows of the day, thank Him for the opportunities given to us, and His help through the rough waters. When we are constantly talking about ourselves and fully focused on the “me, me, me” we end up not fully seeing HIM. So, let’s shift the focus of our days to the Lord, and be thankful that we get the blessing to never stop praying.
