Desire Without Ceasing

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Good morning, LordFather in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Verse of the Day: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV) 23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!Today's reading:  Exodus 12-13 Matthew 16

Desire Without Ceasing

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul tells us to ‘pray without ceasing. This sends some of us into reverse-’craw-fishing’ away from a command in God’s word because we can see no way for us to pray all the time.

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) wrote about this long ago. He said:

“This very desire is your prayer, and if your desire is continuous, your prayer is continuous too. The apostle meant what he said, Pray without ceasing. “

What is the one thing that would cause your heart to stop? The loss of oxygen-if we stop breathing, our bodies cease to work.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul tells us to “...rejoice always, pray always, give thanks always.” Then he says, “...for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

If we belong to Jesus, we have a desire to please Him. We want to seek Him and obey Him-to do His will ‘on earth as it is in Heaven’.

Our private times with the Lord make this desire greater-every time we are alone with Him. Jesus was always praying. He knew how precious His time with His Father was and great He wants our desire to be to know that same precious feeling. The more time we spend alone with God, the more precious it is. The more precious our time is with God, the more desire we carry with us all day after.

Augustine knew this desire and this is what he meant. Our desire is our consciousness of the Lord with us as we live and move in this world.

Two friends walking together down the road may say nothing for a while but neither will argue the other’s presence. Then out of nowhere, the conversation starts.

If we begin our day with God in His word and in prayer, we are conscious of His presence with us and are free to talk with Him anytime-the Holy Spirit always listens.

Pray for a greater, growing desire to be aware every waking moment and you will realize what unceasing prayer is. It is an unceasing desire for God and a continuous God-consciousness.

This is not just for the ‘super spiritual’-this is for us everyday believers-all of us in Christ Jesus.

...because He loves us…

Father in Heaven,

Your name is everywhere and Your kingdom is flawless. My obedience is so weak. Forgive me my wandering mind. Lead me away from weakness.

Most High God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen