How To Pray Without Ceasing, Even When You’re Busy

We’ve all heard the phrase from Paul to “pray without ceasing”.  But is that really possible these days with all we have going on? Actually it is, and here it how we can do it.

While reading the book of John yesterday,  the story of the Samaritan woman at the well jumped out at me. Have you heard of that story? Here is the summary:

“A Samaritan woman came to draw some water and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink of water.”‘ John 4:7

There is a long conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman and at the end of John 4, she realizes that the person she is talking to is the Messiah. She runs and tells everyone in the town and because of her “many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Jesus.” John 4:39

Now, I have read this story many times before but as I read it again, it dawned on me that this woman was simply doing something she probably did every single day, getting water from the well.

She was simply engaging in the mundane work of her everyday life when she met Jesus!

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ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

It got me thinking about other stories of the Bible and found that there are so many instances of people meeting God while in the middle of the routineness of their lives.

• Mary was praying when the angel Gabriel appeared to announce that she would be the mother of God’s Son. This is probably something she did every day.

 

• Zechariah was “doing his work as a priest in the Temple” when the angel told him that his wife Elizabeth was going to have a son who would be “great in the Lord’s sight.” (Luke 1:8,14)  Zechariah was doing his 9 to 5 you could say. 🙂

 

• After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His disciples as they “talked and discussed” (Luke 24:14). They were just hanging out chatting.

 

• Abraham was chilling out trying to stay cool at the “entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day” when God’s angels appeared to him. (Genesis 18)

I could go on and on but I hope you will see that God comes to us at times in the middle of the most basic, seemingly boring and mundane tasks of our day.

So, the next time you are:

folding laundry…again

cooking dinner….again

doing your 9-5…..again

cleaning the house…again

praying….again, give yourself grace and remember these people who were simply doing their usual routine when something amazing happened.

MAKE GOD THE LORD OF THE POTS AND PANS

Praying without ceasing does not mean we are on our knees, in quiet meditation all the time.  True, this is what we aspire to but we can talk to God – which is what prayer is – anytime we want.

I absolutely love this poem from Klara Munkres called the Kitchen Prayer.  I first saw it at a bookstore and it is perfect for all of us.

So talk to Him while you’re doing the dishes.  Let Him ride shotgun with you on the way to work so you can chat.  Invite Him to join you as you play with your kids.  He is always there and all we have to do is be intentional about seeking Him out. This is what praying without ceasing is all about.

Is today the day you’ll hear God’s voice or feel His promptings? I urge you (and me) to greet each day with joyful expectation, prayer and the resolve to do our daily tasks with joy.

Pray with joy

Work with joy

Love with joy

Struggle with joy

Do it all for the love of God.  He sees all and is right there with you.

xo

Eva

 

Also see:

No Time To Pray? Do This Instead

5 Ways to Pray When You Don’t Feel Like Praying