Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues “without ceasing”; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer. “Pray without ceasing . . .”— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.

Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the unlimited certainty of knowing that prayer is always answered. Do we have through the Spirit of God that inexpressible certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when it seemed that God did not answer our prayer? Jesus said, “. . . everyone who asks receives . . .” ( Matthew 7:8 ). Yet we say, “But . . . , but . . . .” God answers prayer in the best way— not just sometimes, but every time. However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?

The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense. But if it were only common sense, what He said would not even be worthwhile. The things Jesus taught about prayer are supernatural truths He reveals to us.

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Journal Entry for Today

May 26, 2010

I think about the ways in which I missed the mark yesterday and the day before and I can only think about how I have failed my God and myself. I consider my lack of discipline and ongoing disobedience and wonder if and when I can ever be in constant connection with God.

 And God says….”I know you inside and out, backwards and forwards. I know your past and future mistakes; I know your past and future sins. I know your hopes and dreams and when you have given up on both your hopes and dreams. And I love you backwards and forwards. I love you and all that you are and are not. That is why I gave my Son for you. You have no consistent “good” side, and like all my people you shout out for help when it looks like a storm is coming your way or when it appears that things are not going your way.

Most of you sins are sins based on lack of faith and trust. You do not trust me to meet all your needs, and so you take matters into your own hands. You try to meet your own needs and then find that even if you do meet your needs in the short term, and that seldom really occurs, you find yourself right back in the same needy space the next day, week or month.

Trust me to meet ALL your needs and rest in connection with me. Do all you can to maintain the connection: study, pray, confess, repent, worship, and reach out to others. Trust me to make your life whole and complete and do not address your own needs, address me in constant prayer and let me meet your needs. When you are in constant prayer, you know I will meet all your needs. It is only when you disengage from me that you are vulnerable.

Trust me in all your ways, pray without ceasing, do not worry about anything but pray about everything….and the peace that passes all understanding will be yours in Christ Jesus.