⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9 NKJV)

I have a small plaque on my desk that has Paul’s admonishment in Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. When I pray I am not one to use a lot of high “church” language like many prayers you may read. No, God gets in me a good-‘ol-boy prayer. One that if anyone overheard might think I was talking to a small town friend he looked up to. I think God does not expect any form of high language in our prayers and I think that is what makes our need to pray without ceasing possible. It is, yes, a prayer to the God of the universe, but too a payer to someone we should consider friend. At this point I am not sure I could live without this type of prayer.

I have not mastered praying without ceasing, but I do come to Him very frequently throughout my day. It is almost an absentminded talking to someone who you know is there constantly conversation. I do try to remain reverent in my prayers, but I too do not hold back on how I am feeling. I think God is big enough to handle our emotions and I find that they are quite raw very often.

Our prayer does need to be reverent, but we need to be comfortable enough to come to the Father, as a father and a friend. Have the conversations you would have with both openly and honestly. Speak to Him about everything going on in your life and do not hold back the rawness of everything you are feeling. This, I believe, is how we come close to Paul’s direction.

Reflect on: How you come before the Father. Do you see Him as Father and friend?