Devotional: Pray, and pray continuously

By Shokyuileng Hungyo | TRINICY.org

​“... The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” - James 5:16

Monica pleaded to God continuously for years for her wayward son. One day, weeping, she sought help from a bishop, asking him to do something. The Bishop after seeing the persistence of the woman said prophetically, “Go your way; as surely as you live, it is impossible that the son of these tears should perish.” 

The son of this woman, (not mentioned in the Bible but surely a woman of faith in God’s eyes), was St. Augustine. 

“Pray continually,” wrote Paul to the Thessalonians. To the Philippians he also wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God.”  

The Bible often reminds us to pray at all times not only because it is communication with God, but also because it is an act of submission to His authority. 

“Pray,” wrote Paul. “Pray continuously.” There is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. When we pray, it may not work out as we wish but it will surely work out as God wills and in doing so we know that He is God and He is good. 

C.S. Lewis noted, “I pray because I cannot help myself. I pray because I am helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time. Waking and sleeping it doesn’t change God. It changes me.” Lewis continues in his ‘No dreamer, but thy dream’;

“Master, they say that when I seem
    To be in speech with you,
Since you make no replies, it's all a dream
    --One talker aping two.
They are half right, but not as they
    Imagine; rather, I
Seek in myself the things I meant to say
    And lo! the wells are dry.
Then, seeing me empty, you forsake
    The Listener's role, and through
My dead lips breathe and into utterance wake
    The thoughts I never knew.
And thus you neither need reply
    Nor can; thus, while we seem
Two talking, thou art One forever, and I
    No dreamer, but thy dream.”
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Our times demand prayerful mothers like Monica, and fathers who are constantly on their knees, praying and pleading to God, as well as children in whose lips are prayer at all times. “Pray continually,” said Paul, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 
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prayer

Lord, You hear all prayers, even the groaning of the hearts. My prayer is this, Lord, that Your peace be upon Your people that we may understand Your ways. Amen.
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