“Pray without ceasing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

How does anyone do that??? This surely can’t mean spending every moment of your life in totally focused prayer. After all, Scripture commands us to work, to worship, to fellowship with other believers, to make disciples, to love our families, and much more. Physically, we must sleep and eat sometimes. So this can’t be telling us to be on our knees in our prayer rooms 24×7. And yet, we are to pray without ceasing. How?

We can be in a prayerful posture as we work, worship, fellowship, etc. We can develop a deeper awareness of God’s constant presence and routinely talk to God as we go through our busy days. It may be helpful to think about prayer like this… Your devoted, focused times of prayer are like phone calls or video chats with your beloved Father in Heaven. The rest of the time, imagine yourself on an ongoing text chat with your Father. As things happen throughout the day or pop into your mind, you quickly text those thanksgivings and petitions to your Father. Your conversation with Him never truly ends, though you focus on people, work, or other activities throughout the day.

That’s certainly an imperfect illustration, but hopefully communicates the idea that prayer doesn’t have to be an on/off activity. It can be something that’s always on but can have more or less of your attention depending on the situation. What do you think? Feel free to share in the comments anything that helps you “pray with ceasing”? #FollowJesus

“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Life on this fallen earth can get pretty grim sometimes. Wars, famines, disasters. Poverty, injustice, oppression. Suffering, financial ruin, illness, injury, disability, and death. These ongoing and often tragic experiences are why Christians are told to remind and encourage each other about our future in Christ. So we won’t give in to despair and won’t give up, even when life is very, very difficult.

Jesus WILL come back to judge and renew creation. Those who have died in Christ WILL rise from their graves and meet Jesus in the air as He returns. Every believer who is alive when Jesus returns WILL also meet our returning King in the air. We WILL always be with our Lord. He will usher in perfect justice for all and the renewal of creation.

These middle chapters of our world and our lives can be hard to stay encouraged and Christ-like through. Remember how the story ends! In a renewed paradise. In the eternal presence of the Lord. In a world without tears, pain, sorrow, or grief. In a world lit by the glory of God—Father, Son, and Spirit. In a place of life, peace, joy, and satisfaction free of creation’s present curse. In the company of angels and all who have called on the name of Lord Jesus to save them throughout history.

That’s the future. It WILL happen. Stay encouraged and use the time between now and then well. Live humbly, confidently, and peacefully in the Lord. Grow in holiness. Delight in drawing ever nearer to God. Make disciples. Share your hope in Christ and serve Him well. #FollowJesus

“Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease.”
– Proverbs 22:10

Think carefully about these words of Solomon in our bitterly divided age. Our culture, media, entertainment, and politics are no longer content to disagree with opponents. Opponents, whomever they are, must be made fun of, mocked, scoffed, laughed at, embarrassed, humiliated, and “owned”. Scoffing reigns supreme and divisions only grow more entrenched and inflamed, year after year. Perhaps scoffing isn’t merely a side effect of division but the primary force turning disagreement into contempt, hatred, and destructive division.

It must not be this way for followers of Jesus! It’s perfectly appropriate to disagree strongly with others. It’s perfectly appropriate to passionately speak up for what you believe and to eloquently counter the arguments of others. However, followers of Jesus should reject scoffing, mocking, and humiliation. It’s enough to express your position and explain what’s wrong with someone else’s. Don’t seek to embarrass or humiliate others, even if they do that to you. Followers of Jesus must turn the other cheek about that sort of thing and encourage others to do likewise.

Remember that as a follower of Jesus, you are called to be salt and light. Salt was a preservative. Instead of making things in society worse, you are supposed to make things better, even if you feel like you’re the only one trying! You are to shine light in a dark world and reveal a better way of living and acting. Choose to reject mockery, contempt, and humiliation as a tactic. Demand that others who agree with you do likewise. Choose not to like, follow, share, or amplify scoffers even if their on “your side”. #FollowJesus

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2

What words would you use to describe your prayer life? Would you use words like steadfast, watchful, and thankful? If so, fantastic! You most certainly know the pleasure of unhurried sweet fellowship with your Lord. If not, know that you aren’t alone. Christians don’t just automatically know how to pray well. Mentoring or teaching can help. Practice makes perfect.

If you’re like many believers who struggle to pray steadfastly, watchfully, and thankfully, don’t give up. Try using a little structure to guide your prayers. For example, take the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. Rather than just quickly reading or reciting it, pray one line and then pray about anything and everything that line brings to mind. Don’t rush and don’t be concerned about bothering God. Then pray the next line and whatever it brings to mind, continuing until you’re all prayed up.

Or, choose a passage of Scripture (the psalms are great for this) and pray through it. Read a line or two, then pray about whatever that brought to your mind, whether it’s a praise, a lament, or a need that you or someone else has. Literally, whatever that line brings to mind. For most people, this is an easy way to pray deeply for quite some time.

Or follow another pattern that helps you organize the things you should pray about. One such patterns is “A-C-T-S”. Begin with ADORATION praising God for who He is. CONFESS any sins you need Him to forgive you for. Give THANKS to God regarding anything and everything for which you are thankful. Conclude with SUPPLICATION – specific requests for others and yourself.

Whatever helps you to pray, use it. Pray! Walk confidently into the throne room of God and ask for His grace and mercy. Know that He delights in your conversation and hears everything you ask of Him. Trust that He knows best how to answer any given prayer, whether that answer is Yes, No, or Keep Praying. #FollowJesus

 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:2-3

When the Bible says that you’re a new creation in Christ, it really means it! If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then you have died to your old way of life and been raised to new life in Jesus Christ. You are a child of God. A citizen of Heaven rather than of the world. Now, you must live like it!

While you shouldn’t ignore things going on in the world – particularly those things in which you are called to minister in Christ’s name – you shouldn’t dwell too long or too deeply on them. Set your mind and heart on the eternal things of God rather than the passing things of the earth. Don’t let your emotions be dictated by the ups and downs of a dying world. Anchor your heart, soul, and mind on God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Your true life is already in and with our Triune God.

Don’t worry overly much about the setbacks, defeats, trials, and terrors of life in this world full of evil. Your new life is hidden, shielded, anchored, and protected in Christ. People and circumstances could take away your money, health, work, freedom, and family. They cannot take away God’s love, Christ’s presence, or the Spirit’s seal. Cultivate your hidden life in Christ. In that life you’ll find the power to glorify and obey Jesus throughout your earthly life, no matter what delights, terrors, victories, and tragedies it may hold. #FollowJesus