Frankly, On Faith: Pray Without Ceasing

by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy

Frankly, On Faith.

Frankly, On Faith.

What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

Well, for starts, it doesn’t mean to not do anything else. I mean, we still have jobs to go to, houses to clean, people to take care of. But we can do all those things with a prayer on our lips or in our hearts. Praying without ceasing is to acknowledge that God is never ceasing.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

Now, I know not every moment is a happy-cake-and-party moment. Some are sad, frustrating, hurtful and hurting moments.

You know what? God knows. And He is loving you through every millisecond of it.

Even if you don’t think so. Even if you’d rather He not.

He’s still here. Being God. Doing God things that no one else can see, and may never see. But that’s why He’s Abba-Daddy-God. Because even if we never recognize or acknowledge all the good He does, he’s still going to do it, anyway.

Because He loves us that much.

And this week’s Bible verse is Him imploring us to see that He’s still here with us. When we know we are His, how much of what this earth throws at us really matters?

TWEET THIS: What does it mean to #pray without ceasing? @MollyJoRealy #faith

And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!

Frankly, On Faith: Pray Without Ceasing

Frankly, On Faith: Pray Without Ceasing

Before You Pray

Isaiah 65:24 (NIV) reads

“Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.”

I’ve always believed, because God is outside of space and time, that He has already heard the prayers the future me will pray.

For quite a few months last year, I struggled with morning anxiety. Waking up was painful as I was faced with so many unknowns: the deteriorating health of loved ones, incomplete projects, financial instability, family schedules . . . the list goes on and on.

I was unable to really write or even blog. I struggled with what to share and who to share it with.

I continued to pray in moans that only the Holy Spirit could interpret for me, knowing that God had a plan and even though I may not see it, it is good.

My Life Verse ~ Jeremiah 29:11

My Life Verse ~ Jeremiah 29:11

In retrospect, I can see how everything happens for a reason. In retrospect, I understand that I was getting in my own way.

I found this reminder note in my desk drawer at work and posted it to my private Facebook page, but I want to share it here, too, because, well, quite frankly, it needs to be shared.

December 8, 2014

December 8, 2014

On the morning of December 8th, 2014…
When I was waking every morning with anxiety
When I had writers block
Before Rick finally went to his heavenly home
Before Alex asked for my blessing to marry Hannah
Before I was blessed with finances for TWO important writers conferences
Before I started grocery shopping for one
Before I had health insurance
Before I picked up a paying client for media/marketing
Before our lives were shaken, stirred, pressed but not crushed, running over …
Before all these great and glorious moments, on the morning of December 8, 2014, I had a Heavenly dream. God put His calming hand on my shoulder and spoke to my soul and said, “It’s going to be all right. I hear you, and I’m already working on it.”

I am reminded every moment that God is a personal God, that He cares about every part of my being, that He is making me whole.

He cares about you, too. He’s already heard your prayers. And He’s already working on it.

And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!

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But I’m not good enough to attend a Christian writers conference . . .
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It’s Complicated, Part Two: Christianity
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“As Long As You Love Me”