The statement pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is not a piece of advice or suggestion. The importance of this statement is revealed in the words of Jesus Christ to His disciples in Luke 22:40. Luke 22:45-46 says further:
“And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

The arm of flesh will always fail according to Jeremiah 17:5. This brings to mind the common saying "A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian". A life of prayer is indeed a blessed one.

In the story of the widow in Luke 18:1-8, there are many lessons we can learn. One, the judge avenged the widow of her enemies simply because, by her prayer, she compelled him to. Two, this woman did not change her prayer – she was consistent in her request. Many people gamble with their prayer lives, either not knowing or not asking for the specific things they need. They are unstable like the wave of the sea being driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:6). James 1:7-8 further says:
“For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Such people don’t even know who to give the glory to if or when they get their miracle. They have alternatives to the miracle-working power of the Almighty, hence, they pray to God, but also seek the assistance of the arm of flesh. The result of peoples reliance on the arm of flesh is that they fail to ask earnestly and so do not have.

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
James 4:2

Our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 18:1-8 assures us that our Heavenly Father, unlike the unjust judge, will answer us speedily on one condition: if we will pray in faith and trust in Him.

As you ask in faith today, may you receive blessings beyond your wildest imaginations, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

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