What Does It Mean to Pray Always?
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Do you have questions about how to pray always or how to have a consistent prayer life?
Growing up in church we used to sing the song, “Read your Bible and pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” At the time it was just a simple and sweet little song. Years later I realized those few words hold so much truth.
It’s one thing to know the truth. Living it out is a whole different ball game.
Our prayer lives are the part of our relationship with God that we are often quick to forget about. The busier we get, the less we tend to it.
My guess is that if you’re reading this you know there’s more to prayer than meets the eye. You’re ready to make it a bigger part of your life. I also assume you have questions.
How should we pray?
What does it mean to pray always?
Where do I start with developing daily effective prayer time?
This article will answer those questions one at a time. I’ll point you towards the prayer life scriptures that have encouraged my prayer habits and will help you answer the question, How do you develop a prayer life?
What Is Consistency In Prayer?
Prayer describes the act of talking and listening to God. That second part; listening; is huge. In fact, its going to answer a lot of your questions about persistence and consistency in prayer so hang onto that.
The Mariam-Webester dictionary defines consistency in these ways:
- agreement or harmony of parts or features to one another or a whole: correspondence.
- the ability to be asserted together without contradiction.
- harmony of conduct or practice with profession (what we speak).
- degree of firmness, density, viscosity, or resistance to movement or separation of constituent particles.
If you were in church and you asked “what is consistency in prayer?” most people would answer that consistency in prayer is praying often; talking to God routinely. What we’ve discovered here by looking up the definition of consistency is that consistency in prayer isn’t just about how often we prayer or praying at the right times.
Three themes stick out at me when we look at the definitions of consistency:
- Unity (between peoples)
- Unity (in conduct and profession)
- Persistence
Consistency in prayer is not just about our pleas and requests. It requires us to come into agreement with God and His will for us, to act in agreement with what He is speaking to us, and to be persistent in both disciplines.
This understanding is enough for us to start asking bigger questions about our prayer habits. Is prayer simply a ritual to you? Or is prayer a way of life?
What Does the Bible Say About Pray Always?
How significant is your prayer life? Your prayer life is a big deal. I believe that’s why the New Testament apostles were so adamant about passing on the message of “pray always.”
Why is it important to pray always? Without the leadership of God in our lives, we have nothing to stand on but our own faulty understanding of life and all it encompasses. When we pray at all times that means we’re listening to God’s voice at all times. Remember how I said the listening piece would change the game when it comes to knowing how to pray without ceasing.
God doesn’t expect us to talk to Him every minute of every day. But He does expect us to always be listening. Prayer is a two-way conversation.
God talks → We listen → We respond → God hears. The conversation continues.
When and where God chooses to start a conversation with us is 100% up to Him. Wherever we are, if we are not ready and listening, we already dropped the ball on praying without ceasing.
What does the Bible say about pray always? Download this list of pray always Bible verses (totally free!) to learn how the Bible encourages us to pray always without ceasing.
One pray always verse I’d like to point you to right now is from Ephesians chapter 6. It’ll help you understand why it’s important to pray always. In this part of the Bible Paul is teaching the Christians in Ephesus about the “Armor of God.” He starts by disclosing two simple truths:
- We all endure spiritual battles (see Ephesians 6:12).
- We can’t win the battle without God (see Ephesians 6:10)
- God has given us tools to help us wade through it and push back (see Ephesians 6:11, 13-18).
Among those tools is prayer.
“…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, or which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Ephesians 6:18-20 (NKJV)
This is why we pray always. Our prayer life represents our willingness to let God order our steps. When we prioritize consistency in prayer we receive wisdom, understanding, and direction for the moment we’re in and the ones to come.
The most powerful prayers in the Bible were centered around God’s desires for people. To pray with consistency is to live faith offensively.
Benefits of Praying Without Ceasing
When we understand that God works through our prayers we’ll understand the importance of praying without ceasing. The benefits of praying without ceasing far outweigh the sacrifice of our time.
- Our relationship with God becomes more intimate.
- We gain wisdom.
- We can avoid sin and temptation.
- Renewed strength.
- Ongoing hope.
- God orders our steps and helps us stay in His will.
- Peace. Genuine peace.
- We are able to discern God’s voice.
- We are able to discern spiritual battles.
- Our confidence in God deepens.
The list goes on (check out Ephesians chapter 4). We won’t experience any of those things without discipline in our prayer life.
The remainder of this article will give you the courage and the means to start developing a consistent prayer life that you can enjoy and maintain on your own.
How do you develop a prayer life? 5 Ways to Pray Always.
Whether you want to learn how to deepen your prayer life or maybe you’re in the beginning stages of developing a consistent prayer life, these 5 tips will help you take practical steps towards improving your relationship with God through prayer.
- Know the goal and purpose of prayer.
- Prepare.
- Study the Bible.
- Listen for God’s voice.
- Think Beyond Yourself.
Understanding the Goal of Daily Effective Prayer
Prayer has two primary goals. It nurtures our relationship with God and it ties us to the mission of God. At the heart of each of these in agreement with God.
How do Christians pray? In agreement with God. Though not always easy, the answer is that simple. Sometimes that means setting aside our opinions. A lot of days it will mean setting aside our emotions. Worldly wisdom, ambitions, and agendas will ALWAYS take a back seat to God, His will, and guidance because our goal is to be united with Him and His mission. That’s the foundation we need to have if we expect to pray effective prayers.
This will require more humility than most of us can conjure up on our own.
Some days you’ll muster up all your strength only to be able to pray the words, Lord, help me to pray.
But guess what?
He’ll do it!
We need that solid foundation though. We have to understand that effective prayer is a prayer that aligns with God’s Word and will.
Preparing for Daily Effective Prayer
When should we pray? As we go. On your way to work, while you’re cooking breakfast, while you’re waiting for your next appointment, or running errands. Ask God to open your eyes to what He’s doing in those places. Ask Him to show you who you can encourage while you’re there. How can you join in and be a part of what He is doing?
Are there specific Christian prayer times? There are certain denominations that practice specific times of prayer. One I know of is Catholicism. How do Catholics develop consistent prayer lives? They use a method called “praying the hours.” The Catholic church coined the phrase and added some of their own traditions to it but truly, it’s a practice that has been modeled even throughout the Bible. Even Jesus’ prayer life suggests that there were certain times of day that Jews set aside for prayer. Because of this, most people will suggest picking a time of day to pray. If you’ve tried that and it hasn’t worked well for you, I suggest instead of picking a time, picking a trigger; a sound, or visual that when heard or seen reminds you to pray. I walk you through exactly how to do this in this free 5-day prayer challenge.
Having a plan; even a very basic plan, can help you get in the habit of effective daily prayer. It’ll keep you praying intentionally through life’s highs and lows. Make sure you sign up for our free prayer and Bible reading challenge if you need help creating a plan. We’re here for you!
Using Scripture-Inspired Prayers to Develop A Consistent Prayer Life
Something that stood out to me when studying Jesus’ prayer life is how often He prayed Scripture. A lot of the prayers He prayed included verses straight from the Torah.
When it comes to having an effective prayer life, we should take a cue from Jesus. Even He prayed in agreement with His Father’s words. Instead of hunting for things to pray about or aimlessly wandering wonders what to pray for today, we can follow Jesus’ example impact the world with scripture-inspired (which is ultimately God-inspired prayer).
Want to develop a consistent prayer life? Build it on the Bible, just like you do your faith. Our 5-day challenge will walk you through exactly how to do that.
New to studying the Bible? Get the basics of how to study the Bible here.
How Listening Helps Us Pray Always
We’ve touched on this a little but I really want to drive this point home. Most people ask how to pray and are looking for methods that will guide their words. Our desire to cover all the bases (which is a good intention) causes us to spend way too much time talking and not enough time listening.
It’s ok to have a list. We should want to include God in every aspect of our lives. If that’s where you’re coming from it makes sense that when you pray you have plenty of things to say. But daily effective prayer will require you to pause and listen for the voice of God when you pray.
There will be times when you pray but struggle to see evidence that God is working. But God is ALWAYS working. Be watchful. Ask Him to give you eyes to see where He is at work. Don’t be afraid to ask God questions.
How Pray Always Serves the Well-being of Others
Prayer is the most effective way to advocate for the salvation and well-being of people and communities around us.
If your prayers never move outside of your own needs, wants, and life you’re doing it wrong. When we use prayer to partner with God it becomes a tool that impacts people, nations, and kingdoms for HIS glory. To do this we must be aware of not just the physical needs of people but the spiritual condition of the world. We bring both to God in prayer.
Luke addresses this in the Bible when He says, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36 (KJV).
We must prioritize praying for others.
Have you noticed how Paul and the other writers of the New Testament letters open with the phrase (similar to) I make mention of you in my prayers? Most of these writers close out their letters including the phrase (similar to) praying for you always. And typically somewhere in the body of the letter there is an emphasis on ongoing prayer for people and needs, like in Philippians pray without ceasing (see Philippians 4:6-7).
If you’re struggling to think of things to pray for daily that go beyond your own needs try creating prayer outline with these prayer journaling pages. They’re a big help!
How Do I Keep My Prayer Life Fresh?
Pray As You Go. I think the most essential piece of cultivating a consistent prayer life is the willingness to stop and pray when God calls you to pray. Too often we put the emphasis on creating the perfect environment for prayer instead of simply obeying the call to prayer. When God puts a name on your heart, pray. If He puts a circumstance on your heart, pray about it.
Incorporate the Bible. I will never stop talking about how well-fed my soul feels when I incorporate the Bible in my praise and prayer. When I don’t have the words, the Bible does. When I need perspective, the Bible gives that too. I am always so inspired and refreshed by the animate words of the Bible.
Scripted Prayer. Another word for this is liturgy. I know some people find scripted prayers stale and heartless. I’ve experienced quite the opposite. When I take the time to read the prayer, meditate on it, make sure it aligns with the Bible, and then come wholeheartedly to God with it – I’ve found that kind of liturgy to be a breath of fresh air.
Worship. Worship helps us see God for who He is and focus our attention on the work of His hands. It shapes our perspective and keeps us hopeful. Paul encourages us the same way in this pray always verse, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 If you ever don’t know what to pray, start with worship.
- Let the praises of the people in the Bible inspire your worship.
- Think about the eternal gifts God’s given (you’ll find a list in Ephesians chapter 1).
- Consider the ways God has come through for you and for people in the Bible. Use those moments to guide your praise.
- Try learning a new name of God and praising Him for who He is.
Start Developing Consistent Prayer Life
Prayer is a necessity for the body of Christ. Jesus models this with His own life praying frequently for God’s will to be done. He passes His teachings onto the disciples and through scripture, gives us the opportunity to learn more through the apostle Paul. What we walk away with is this; prayer is supposed to be a regular ongoing part of our lives, not an isolated fragment of it.
If this is your goal, I am all in for supporting you through it! I have a 5-day prayer challenge I created to help women build their prayer life on solid ground and overcome the challenges associated with daily effective prayer. Join us by signing-up and submitting the form below.
No matter what “phase” of growth or where you are in your relationship with God, the discipline of prayer is one we should treasure and cultivate. I’d love to help you get started!
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