15 lines
4.6 KiB
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15 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
<html><head><title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">December 24</div></div>
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<h1>Another Call to Pray without Ceasing</h1>
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<div class="block"><i><b>Praying</b> <b>always</b> with <b>all</b> prayer and supplication in the <b>Spirit</b>, being watchful to this end with <b>all</b> perseverance and supplication for <b>all</b> the saints.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 6, '18-18');">Ephesians 6:18</a>)</div>
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<p>Through His word, God calls us to lives of continual prayerfulness. <i>"<b>Pray without ceasing</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Th', 5, '17-17');">1 Thessalonians 5:17</a>). Jesus also calls us to this life of prayer, both by His teaching and His example. <i>"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men <b>always ought to pray</b> and not lose heart…in the <b>morning</b>, having risen a long while <b>before daylight</b>, He went out and departed to a <b>solitary place</b>; and there <b>He prayed</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 18, '1-1');">Luke 18:1</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Mar', 1, '35-35');">Mark 1:35</a>). Our present verse is <b>another call to praying without ceasing</b>.</p><p>The context directs us to appropriate, by faith, the powerful spiritual resources that are ours in the Lord. <i>"Finally, my brethren, be <b>strong</b> in the <b>Lord</b> and in the <b>power</b> of <b>His might</b>. Put on the <b>whole armor</b> of <b>God</b>, that you may be able to <b>stand against</b> the <b>wiles</b> of the <b>devil</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 6, '10-11');">Ephesians 6:10-11</a>). These heavenly provisions are put on by looking to the Lord unceasingly in prayer: <i>"<b>praying always</b>."</i> This constancy in prayer can be done with <i>"<b>all</b> prayer and supplication."</i> God has arranged many appropriate ways for us to pray, such as confession, repentance, request, thanksgiving, rejoicing, praise, adoration, and more. Note, however, that every type of praying is to be done <i>"<b>in</b> the <b>Spirit</b>."</i> As in all areas of life, we must depend upon the Spirit. He will grant us guidance and wisdom for praying according to the will of God.</p><p>Godly praying also includes spiritual alertness: <i>"being <b>watchful</b> to this end."</i> When prayer is especially needed, we can be tempted to slumber. In Gethsemane, the disciples were not alert to the great need to pray. <i>"<b>Watch</b> and <b>pray</b>, lest you enter into temptation"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mar', 14, '38-38');">Mark 14:38</a>). Again, this highlights our need to be led of the Spirit. Further, a part of our need for the Spirit pertains to perseverance: <i>"with <b>all perseverance</b>."</i> Praying requires all kinds of spiritual persistence. Praying requires demanding spiritual labor. The Holy Spirit must sustain us in God's strength, if we are to engage in prayer to the extent that our Lord often desires. Some of this call to persevering prayer involves the battles and needs that others are facing: <i>"with all perseverance and supplication <b>for all the saints</b>."</i> It is not wrong for us to cry out to God concerning our own needs. Our Lord invites us to do such. <i>"Let <b>your requests</b> be made known to God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl', 4, '6-6');">Philippians 4:6</a>). Still, the Lord wants to use us in the lives of people near and far through the wonderful avenue of intercession. The vision for prayer given here is quite expansive: <i>"Praying <b>always</b>… <b>all</b> prayer…<b>all</b> perseverance…<b>all</b> the saints."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, this extensive call to prayer humbles my heart. I see much room to grow in my prayer life. Yet, it stirs my faith as well. By Your Spirit of grace at work in me, such praying is possible. O Lord, please make of me such a prayer warrior, Amen.</div></div></div><div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/12/1223.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/12/1225.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a></div></div>
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