Tag Archives: pray without ceasing

2 Comments

 

P.S. -postscript /a brief attachment appended to the ending of a message

Rylie is typically pretty devout when it comes to prayer. She starts out something like, "Jesus Christ, Lord...." and then prays long and hard for everyone and everything she can think of. We were surprised when one night the usually long-winded giver of thanks made her prayer short and sweet.  She thanked God for me, Hayden, Hallie, Griffin and our food. And then she said amen.  Jason, who usually prefers the abridged version of her prayer looked befuddled.  Daddy's girl had forgotten to mention him in her talk with God and he'd noticed.

Disappointed he said, "You forgot me!".

Sensing his sorrow I quickly offered,....... "Rylie, God does P.S.'s. So she added on, "And thank you for my Daddy".

God really does allow P.S.'s.  In fact I believe he encourages them.

IMG_5251

He tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Sometimes we say "Amen"; our "so be it". But it isn't intended to mean "Prayer over" or "The End".  Amen isn't a closing meaning "On to the next thing, .....glad I got that obligation out-of-the-way".

If we have any sense whatsoever (and I admit I lack good sense on a regular basis) we know that there isn't a moment that exists when there ISN'T something to be said to God. There's always one more thing; another P.S.

He wants to hear from us.

  A father wants to be remembered.

I do try to have somewhat of an organized prayer time.  Having prayed in groups, a habitual format I've learned goes something like Praise/Thanks/Repentance/Intercession for self and others.  I think a format is dandy.  But if it's the only communication I have with God, I'm missing out.

So prayer P.S.'s are in order for any and all occasions

when you notice the first brightly hued leaf signaling Fall's arrival

when you have a loved-one on the road

or you get a phone call that your friend is sick and they don't know what's wrong

when laughter explodes and you realize its healing nature

a8

when you read in the news that another teenager has taken her life or you hear another heart-wrenching story about cyber bullying

when your kid has a big test or has just failed one

010814_0304_1.jpg

or you realize that you were snippy with your husband in the last text you sent

when you think about how thankful you are for your extended family

or a niece gets baptized

when you need grace

a6

when you've received it

I think every day should be chock full of P.S.'s

Often times my P.S. holds the most important and heartfelt communication.  In its brevity, it says:

I trust you

I need you

I acknowledge you

Thank you!

Forgive me.

I love you

I love you

I love you

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

 

You've heard it said, "I took the road less-traveled".   The bold traveler choosing it's path must be up for adventure.  The one on the road less-traveled seizes newness and finds opportunity for growth.  There's often glory found on the road less-traveled.

You don't hear so much about the road much-traveled.

Some would say that the road that's traveled everyday is a road with lined with ruts. It's a  path of drudgery. It might be said that the road much-traveled lacks luster in its old, familiar path.photo (7)

Maybe.

I say the road much-traveled, when well-traveled, is faithful.

It's surely a road you travel in prayer.

Maybe you've prayed for a devastated friend for weeks; "Lord, help her get up in the morning.  Help her rest.  Help her know you're near."  Your words, tired-sounding, come out nearly just the same on Friday as they did on Tuesday, but they're sincere.

A prayer may be long spoken for your children.  Just like yesterday, and years before, you pray that your children would grow in their love for God.  Your prayer firm, you ask again and again that he would draw them near.

Like an unrelenting child you pray for help, for those things with which you struggle, fear or a bad attitude.  You pray honestly that God would help you to be unselfish and that you're love for His word would grow.

Keep walking your prayer road.  Be thankful when its scenery is beautiful evidence of answered prayer. And be hopeful for those things which are yet to be seen.

Walk the road of prayer even when you don't feel faithful, for its destination is better than what we presently see.

Whether I run, or slow to a crawl, I will carry on down this well-traveled path knowing-

....your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 26:3