Last week, we started looking at Rev 5:8 and how God stores our prayers in bowls. We talked about prayer equity and how failing to pray can be considered a sin. Today, we’re going to look specifically at filling your bowl and what it means to pray without ceasing.
If you missed that article, check it out here:
Waiting For the Fill-up: Prayers in Bowls 1
1 Thes 5:16- Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you.
We fill our bowls by praying and we know we are called to pray without ceasing. But what does that look like?
God Stores Our Prayers
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
It is an amazing thought that God not only hears, but keeps our prayers. He stores our prayers until there is enough equity to pour out his answers and blessings. If you missed my first post on prayer bowls in heaven, check it out here Prayer Bowls 1: Fill Your Bowl
Not Praying is a Sin
Paul tells us that failing to pray is a sin. For this reason alone we should be praying. Paul talks specifically about intercessory prayer and praying for each other but all prayer is important. God wants to spend time with us. He wants to talk to us and have a relationship. But in order to have a relationship with someone, we have to spend time with them. We spend time with God by praying.
1Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Above and beyond just praying, we are called to pray without ceasing.
What is Praying Without Ceasing?
For a long time, the idea of praying without ceasing felt like a lofty feat that only the super devout with tons of time could even hope to achieve. And yet, that call goes out to each and every one of us. So what does it mean to pray without ceasing? How do we pray without ceasing?
Talking to friends before writing this, some were under the impression that praying without ceasing means to talk to God all day long. Each admitted to feeling like they don’t pray enough and that there is no way we can pray without ceasing in our normal, daily lives. And yet that is exactly what we are called to do. One replied that she thought our thoughts should be directed towards God at all times or we should be reciting prayers like Our Father and Hail Mary in our idle moments. I don’t necessarily think God wants to hear our constant, mindless chatter anymore than anyone else. Contrasty, what he does want, is our dependance. He wants our openness to him, and our willingness to come to him first, not last.
Seeking Advice
In truth, seeking wise council is important and we are told in the Bible to do so. Psalms 19:20, Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 13:10, Ecclesiastes 4:13. Over and over, we are told that the wise seek advice while the foolish refuse instruction and do their own thing. While it is important to seek out mentors and Godly advice from those we trust, the council we most need to be seeking is the Lord’s.
Where do you go first? Do you pray or do you vent to your friends?
What is Praying Without Ceasing?
To pray without ceasing is to stay in an attitude of prayer at all times. That can mean different things at different times. Some times, to pray without ceasing is to hold up our struggles as we are in them. Other times, to pray without ceasing means to give thanks quickly and frequently when God blesses us with answers, blessings or signs. Additionally, to pray without ceasing is to be mindful of our need for God and his presence in our lives. It can be recognizing when we sin and asking for forgiveness and guidance on how to make things right in the moment instead of waiting until later. To pray without ceasing is about listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and taking the time to pray for the things that He puts on our minds. To pray without ceasing is to rememeber to see the signs around us that God is with us. It’s being mindful and grateful of beauty, love, friendship, etc.
God is with us. He loves us and He gives us reminders of that all the time if we attention. To pray without ceasing is to keep your focus on God and to tune in instead of allowing life to distract you. There are so many moments in the day when we can turn to God if we would just be willing to take them.
Ways to Pray Without Ceasing
1. Give Thanks In All Things
Gratitude is an attitude! It is possible, even in the struggles to find things to be grateful. We need to practice looking for things to be grateful for. For example, did you receive unexpected help today? Did God send a beautiful sunrise or sunset? Was a song on the radio exactly what you needed to hear? Did God send someone to speak a kind word when you feeling down? Any unexpected blessing no matter how big or small needs a moment of gratitude. Pay attention and practice noticing the little things.
Gratitude is not an attitude that comes easily to most of us and its easy to stop paying attention. I find, every time I tune back in to God, that I am amazed how many little things there are over my day. God is constantly talking to us. How often do we take the time to listen? When you add up all of those little things, it turns into something big. It’s the way God confirms his love for you on a daily basis. And that is something worth paying attention too!
2. Use the mundane moments
Our lives are full of down time. It could be waiting to pick kids up from school, moments spend folding laundry or washing dishes, vacuuming the floor or driving to work. There are so many moments in our day that we could spend in reflection and prayer if we tune in instead of tune out.
I would challenge you to turn off the car radio, use the time spent vacuuming or washing dishes, use the time in the shower. That’s wasted time that could be spent in prayer. Sometimes it’s just using the silence to let God speak to you. No matter what it is, use the mundane moments between things to put your focus back on God.
Whatever your mundane moments are, whether it’s commuting to work or picking up toys, walking from one meeting to the next or walking the dog, use those moments to tune instead of out.
3. Be transparent
This was hard for me for a long time. I always read the verses about being grateful and didn’t realize that I didn’t have to force something that just wasn’t there. Yes, we need to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, but that doesn’t always mean that things are perfect. It doesn’t alway mean that we can give thanks for our struggles and situations. We may not be there yet. It takes time and God’s help to reach that point. In the meantime, it’s okay to be angry, sad, frustrated, hurt or whatever else we are feeling.
Every time I get real and pour out the ugliest parts of what I’m thinking and feeling, God meets me in those places. He lights up the darkness and does something in me. That is when I truly experience God’s peace.
4. Ask for forgiveness
Repentance is something that we are constantly in need of. It is good for our mind, emotions and soul and we need it in order to fully experience God. Therefore, I would challenge you, every time you mess up to ask for forgiveness in that moment. Then, ask God to show you how you can make things right or if something needs to be done to address the issue in the physical world. We don’t need to be constantly focused on our sin but we do need to confess it and move on. Sin is not something we want to let linger or fester in our lives and the faster we address the issue, the easier it is to root out.
5. Pay attention to your internal dialogue
Frequently, my pastor reminds us that the person who talks to us the most, is us. We are the loudest and most constant voice that we hear. What are you saying to yourself? Are you worrying about what is troubling you or are you giving that up to God? Do you continue to beat yourself up over something that you’ve done or are you asking God for forgiveness? Pay attention to your internal dialogue, especially when you are stuck on repeat. Those repetitious thoughts are often the things that we are holding onto and refusing to really surrender to our Heavenly Father.
6. Beware what you consume
There is a quote that floated around recently on social media that is a great reminder for all of us. “Your diet is not only what you eat. It is what you watch, what you read, what you listen to, the people you associate with. Be mindful of the things you put in your body emotionally, spiritually and physically.” Similar to how our internal dialogue dictates out outward responses, what we consume can either build us up or consume us.
To that point, my local Christian radio station, SmileFM, has a 30 day challenge. They say, that if you listen to their station only for 30 days, you will notice a difference in your outlook and attitude and that you will be happier and more peaceful.
If we are what we consume, what are you consuming? Are you consuming things that are healthy, lasting, uplifting, that will feed your body, mind and sou? Or, conversely, are you consuming the spiritual and emotional equivalent of junk food that tastes good in the moment but leaves you feeling stressed, and depleted later? Small changes can and do make a big difference and lead to more small changes. Try switching your car radio to a Christian station or playing praise and worship music around your home or playing a pod cast of a sermon.
7. Read your Bible
the Bible
It’s really easy to pour out our hearts but is often much more difficult to stop and listen as God tries to pour out his. Reading the Bible daily is the best way to hear God’s words. The read-the-Bible-in-a-year type challenges are fantastic and a great way to familiarize your self with the entire book. Studies, that focus on breaking down specific book, topic or passage are fantastic for going in depth and learning more. Even just reading passages and asking God what he wants to show you is an effective way of reading.
Devotions
Often times, especially in certain seasons of life, we find ourselves to busy for even the smaller of these options. A bible app that can read to you while you in the car or doing chores can be an excellent way of getting the Bible into your daily life.
Daily devotions can offer a single verse for those under enormous time constraints. There are great apps and email services so you don’t have to buy a book and make time to sit down deliberately. Some are short enough you can read them in a minute or two but give you something to meditate on each day.
Use the time you have
Reading the Bible is extremely important and, in truth, it is best to sit down with an actual book when you have time to sit, pray and meditate over the scriptures. We aren’t always in seasons of life where this is possible.
While it’s extremely important to sit, be still and read his word directly we may not have the availability to do so each and every day. The Father doesn’t want us to beat ourselves up over what we cannot do. He just wants to spend time with us- as much time as possible. Ask God to show you where you have time and what you can do. God would rather spend 2 minutes with you today than wait 2 weeks to spend 20 minutes. It isn’t that the 20 minutes is any less important. I would strongly argue it is more important long term. However, God knows that we need him daily, moment by moment and that time now is better than time defered. He will show up and use the time you give him.
8. Meditate on God’s word
There are all kinds of ways to meditate over the word of God. Some including quiet reflection, journaling, meditative coloring, etc. Some ways are easier for some that others.
I tend to pray late at night and will often fall asleep when I try to sit quietly to wait for God to speak. Often, I find that journaling is my best way to hear from God. I’ll sit and write, and keep my pencil moving for either a set period of time or until I feel like I”m finished. Its easiest for me if I don’t think about what I”m writing but rather let my mind wander. I will pray as I do this and ask the Holy Spirit what he wants to tell me. Usually, I am surprised when I go back and read what I’ve written because it contains things I never actively thought.
Similarly, a great way to meditate on God’s word is to write it out. Simply copying scripture helps us to understand and remember it better. In a like fashion, memorizing scripture is a classic, tried and true way to meditate on God’s word.
9. Perform Acts of Service
Prayer doesn’t always have to be active talking. Acts of service can be prayers. Mundane chores can be acts of prayers. Prayer is an attitude of seeking God in all things and doing all things in a manner that is uplifting to others and ourselves. I would challenge you to pick something on this list to focus on and try to make small changes to include God in more of your daily life. If you don’t know where to start, gratitude is always an excellent beginning!
10. Find time to listen
Talking to my friends, it seems that a lot of us fall into the trap of talking at God. Often, it’s easy to miss hearing God speak back because we aren’t listening, don’t think its him or don’t believe that he regularly answers. Personally, I spent years thinking God didn’t speak to me because I didn’t know what to listen for! It’s easy to forget that prayer is a two-way conversation.
God speaks to each of us differently and uses different methods at different times. Maybe there is a song, devotion or scripture passage that God wants to speak to you through. Perhaps you’ve a dream or vision. Often, God speaks in a small voice that sounds like your own. It’s a thought to do something specific that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own. Whatever it is, you won’t hear it if you aren’t listening. Take some time to be still and ask God what he has to say.
What happens when the bowl is full?
When the bowls are full, God moves.
Daphne Delay’s article Golden Prayer Bowls quotes Jentzen Franklin: “What a marvelous image! When you pray, you are filling the prayer bowls of heaven. In God’s perfect timing, your prayers are mixed with the fire of God (His power) and cast back down to earth to change your situation… Even if you don’t feel like anything is happening in the natural world, when you pray, you are filling the prayer bowls in the spirit realm. When they are full, they will tilt and pour out answers to your prayers!” (originally from The Amazing Discernment of Women, by Jentezen Franklin)
And that does fill me with hope!
Knowing that my praying without ceasing fills my prayer bowl faster and brings God’s blessings and answers is a huge encouragement to not give up. When I am feeling frustrated, it’s a good reminder that I have a job to do that is mine and mine alone. I can fill my bowl while I am waiting on God in faith.
Stuck in the Waiting
I know waiting for the pour-out is not easy. At this moment, I’ve been waiting on prayers that feel important and urgent to me. I don’t understand why sometimes the answer is ‘wait.’ Further, I don’t understand why, sometimes, we have to wait so much longer than than those around us asking for the same things. At the present time, I’m in a season where I sometimes think ‘wait’ should be a curse word! While it’s hard, and painful, waiting reveals a lot of the ugly in me God needs to prune in order for me to bear good fruit, to be a better person, to be more Christlike.
Our mission doesn’t change in the waiting though. We are called to pray without ceasing and to fill our prayer bowl. Next time, we’ll talk about waiting.
I’d like to leave you with the following:
Psalm 130 A Song of Ascents
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
Prayer
Father,
We know that prayer is important. Even though You call us to pray without ceasing, we know that we fail miserably. We are constantly distracted by the noise around us and ask for your forgiveness.
Help us to remember that our prayers are not always answered instantly. Remind us that our prayers gain equity and that we should never give up on them. You have promised to hear our prayers. Additionally, you have promised that whatever we ask in faith will be granted to us. We can trust that you are not a God who lies and that you will answer. Give us the endurance to not give up when we grow weary. Help us to pray without ceasing.
Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank you for always answering our prayers. Help us to see the answers when they come in ways we don’t expect.
In Jesus’ name!
All verses taken from Bible.com ESV translation. Any emphasis added is mine.
If this was helpful to you, please check out the other articles in the Prayers In Bowls Series:
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