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Most of us know the feeling: In times of severe hardship or crisis, we cry out to God in prayer, seeking His help in our hopeless situations. Often we have experienced God responding to these prayers and helping us out of critical situations. But what does our prayer life look like outside of these times of worry in everyday life?
Pray without ceasing
Paul writes to the Thessalonians that they should pray constantly or without ceasing (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Of course, we turn to God in difficult situations or when facing acute problems. But how is it possible to pray constantly when we are in the midst of everyday life with its numerous obligations?
In today's fast-paced world, the demands of work, family, and community service are considerable. Families with many children, in particular, often find it impossible to maintain a consistent practice of prayer. Prayer can easily become a burdensome obligation rather than a source of strength.
Interestingly, it is precisely amidst this stress that people seek something they can be passionate about. We repeatedly observe how deeply people engage with certain topics. This passion shapes their daily lives, especially their conversations. When someone speaks with devotion about something, it quickly becomes clear: it is close to their heart. In Matthew 12:34 we read: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
People fill their hearts with things that are important to them. In all cultures and peoples, we see that humans are naturally inclined to worship something supernatural. The longing for the divine is inherent in us. Therefore, we can assume that every person—consciously or unconsciously—worships something, someone, or even themselves.
This raises the question: What fills our hearts? The heart is where decisions are made and where a person's character is shaped. The Bible admonishes us: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).
If prayer is to become a living practice in everyday life, we must focus on placing God at the center of our hearts. The following verse helps us do this: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The feeling of gratitude should not only come from our feelings or emotions, but rather from faith.
Be thankful in everything.
If we make it our goal to be thankful in all things, we will find an opportunity in every situation to speak with God – whether cooking, walking, or driving. In this way, we remain constantly connected to God, to praise and worship Him.
But what about the painful moments? Can we be grateful when we lose a loved one, are in a broken relationship, fail professionally, or when something that means a lot to us falls apart? It is precisely then that it is difficult to feel genuine gratitude.
Often we lack perspective, even on small things – through the lens of ego, we always feel we have too little and are rarely satisfied. But the Bible says: Gratitude is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. This gratitude should not merely arise from a feeling, but from faith.
If we believe in Jesus Christ, then we believe in the truth that is founded on the Word of God. The Bible makes it clear that no one can be justified by themselves in the glory of God—we have all sinned. We have no right, on our own, to approach God.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we experience freedom from our guilt. We recognize that we are sinners and cannot stand before God. But in Jesus Christ, salvation is offered to us. He took death on the cross for our sins and gives us the opportunity to live a new life. This new life is not simply a better version of ourselves, but an invitation to live His life. This is made possible through a deep, living relationship with Christ.
Through conversion, we no longer turn away from God, but in Christ we go directly to God. It is therefore crucial that our lives are no longer determined by ourselves, but by Jesus Christ. During His earthly life, Jesus Himself perfectly lived the Father's will and thus showed us what it means to live by faith. Jesus will also seek the Father's will in our lives and lead us on a path that glorifies God.
It is an important truth that everything that happens to us as Christians is sustained by Jesus when we are in Him. What problem could be too great for Jesus, or what situation unsolvable? He will bring us to our destination—to the glory of the Father and to the receipt of our heavenly inheritance. This requires our complete trust and our willingness to seek and accept God's will in our lives. When we understand this truth, we can be thankful in every situation.
Image source: Dee karen (c) AdobeStock_439148026
It does not dampen the spirit
We read further in 1 Thessalonians 5:19: “Do not quench the Spirit!” These words are connected to the previous verses. The Holy Spirit is a very important companion in our lives and in our prayers. He confirms this state that we have considered earlier.
We read in the Bible that we have received the Spirit of adoption, through whom we may call God our Father (cf. Rom 8:15). “For no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (cf. 1 Cor 12:3). The Holy Spirit desires to actively participate in our prayer life. He often urges us to pray. Here we should be sensitive and follow what the Spirit leads us to.
In the Epistle to the Romans we read: “In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
When we lack the words or don't know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit is our wonderful helper. He knows not only God's holiness but also our hearts—our hidden thoughts, our insecurities, and our inner struggles. He brings all of this before God. With groanings beyond words, He intercedes for us so that our hearts may be aligned with God's will. When we allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit, He begins to work on our hearts.
Prayer in the Spirit is always a way to pray to the Lord. The Holy Spirit will always have something He wants to say to God. When the Holy Spirit urges us to pray, we should not neglect it but seek out prayer. It is also possible that, through the Holy Spirit, we will intercede for others in prayer.
Therefore, we should not view prayer as a burdensome obligation. Rather, it is an invitation to enter into a deeper relationship with God. When we pray continually, we open our hearts to His presence and guidance. Gratitude helps us to see God in all situations and to thank Him for them in prayer. The Holy Spirit is our tireless helper, who supports and builds us up in prayer.
Prayer is a source of our spiritual life, a connection to God that not only sustains us but also invites us to grow in our faith. In prayer, we can be certain that we are not alone. It is the bridge that connects us to God's heart, the source of His strength, and an expression of our gratitude.
Let us nurture this connection so that prayer becomes a living practice in our daily lives, shaping them in wonderful ways. It will not become a burdensome obligation, but a value that enriches our lives and brings us into contact with God's love and grace in all circumstances. In gratitude and prayer, we find peace and our purpose, and through this practice, we experience the deepest connection to our Creator.
Sergej Altmann
Municipality of Ulmen