What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

It is good to pass through all the hours of the day in a spirit of prayer. Our verse does not mean that we must pray all day and night long. That would be impossible. But it means we have to pray and go on praying. It has not to be by fits and starts.

The apostle, of course, cannot mean by this that we are always to be in the attitude of prayer. This would be impossible. Many of God's praying ones have to spend the greater part of their time in the company of the prayerless: and sometimes we may be on a journey, where we have no opportunity for private or secret prayer. Still, if we are living and walking with God in the true spirit of prayer, the lifting up of the heart to Him may not be less frequent, though less orderly.

Some say, It is impossible to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). God does not exhort us to do the impossible. Some cease to maintain prayer. We are told not to cease, but to continue with all perseverance in spite of every opposition.

Our responsibility is to pray without ceasing, always maintaining uninterruptedly the consciousness of dependence, and our need of divine grace. Thus we shall be always cast upon God, always enjoy liberty of heart in His presence, and consequently be always finding, in the constant reception of mercies, grace and blessing, in answer to our cries, new themes for thanksgiving and praise.

It does not mean the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, but always. It is the soul's habit looking up to Him in conscious, known, real dependence upon Him. You need not get away into a corner for that. What God proposes for us is the blessed access of known, felt, and expressed dependence on Himself.

Suppose you begin the day with a sweet spirit of prayer and confidence in God: in the course of the day, in this wretched world you find a thousand cares and agitations; but if you are spiritually exercised, alive to see the things of God, everything will be a matter of prayer and intercession, according to the mind of God. Thus humbleness and dependence should mark all a saint's actions.

Habitually referring everything to our Father in the midst of our daily routine keeps us in touch with Him so that His peace can keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

In one of our church epistles, it is very instructive to notice that "pray without ceasing" is set in order, and jewelled by "rejoice evermore" on one side, and by "in everything give thanks" on the other; and it is added "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, concerning you." … Our rejoicings as well as our thanksgivings should never part company with the word of admonition "pray without ceasing" lest the flesh should connect itself with our mercies.

Closer connection between these three than our souls are wont to acknowledge. Joy will ever rise in proportion to prayer and thanksgiving.

If you say, "I cannot pray, I cannot find God's presence now," it is just the very time you need to pray. Where will you find strength? In staying away? No. … There may be distraction of thought, but let not that hinder your "praying;" it is the very thing which shows you have a need to be supplied.