A Step Toward Unceasing Prayer: Responding to the Holy Spirit
Unceasing prayer appears out of reach, if not outright impractical. But learning to pray like that isn’t as impossible as we might think, and here’s why.
We have an undeniable inner urge for prayer as a consequence of our new birth, for no true Christian is prayerless. What follows is a simple step toward unceasing prayer: learning to respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit to pray.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in Preaching and Preachers, instructs us:
“Always respond to every impulse to pray. The impulse to pray may come when you are reading or when you are battling with a text. I would make an absolute law of this – always obey such an impulse.
“Where does it come from? It is the work of the Holy Spirit; it is a part of the meaning of ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure’ (Phil 2:12-13).
“This often leads to some of the most remarkable experiences in the life of the minister. So never resist, never postpone it, never push it aside because you are busy. Give yourself to it, yield to it; and you will find not only that you have not been wasting time with respect to the matter with which you are dealing but that actually it has helped you greatly in that respect…
Such a call to prayer must never be regarded as a distraction; always respond to it immediately, and thank God if it happens to you frequently.”
If the Holy Spirit is an aid to those who seek to pray without ceasing, then there is hope. It can be done. This hope necessarily lies outside of ourselves and is only found for those in Christ.
Enjoy this post? Subscribe to blog updates via email or via RSS
Related posts:
- A Step Toward Unceasing Prayer: A Wartime Mentality
- A Step Toward Unceasing Prayer: Embracing Discipline and Planning
- Developing Your Prayer Life: The Ongoing Series
Great post and good reminder to heed those impulses to pray. I’ve been working toward a better, more conscientious prayer life and this is a terrific point.
Thanks.
I think this hits on the same idea that I articulated in reply to your comment on my page. The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to be close to Him. And what’s difficult is that we have this war waging within us: at once we are distracted and yet are compelled to Him. Blessed will be the day when distractions cease and our desire is for Him only. Then we will truly be filled with righteousness.
Lorraine, good to see you in the comment section! I really do appreciate your feedback.
Jonathan, you are right. When the war ceases and the distracts are gone…what a life of worship that will be. I look forward to that undivided heart.
“Always respond to every impulse to pray.” That line is gold. And I immediately thought to myself, “Yes, because that impulse is the Holy Spirit.” Then he says the very same thing.
Martin Lloyd Jones is the poster child for Christian clarity. He thinks and imagines in theological ways so the average man can get at Christian truths. Quite like Lewis.
I’ve found that as my walk with Christ goes further onward, my impulse to pray has become more pronounced. If we’re in town or on the road somewhere, and an emergency vehicle or the police pass by with sirens blaring, I will often stop whatever conversation I’m engaged in and say a quick prayer for them and any victims involved. Articles in the newspaper prompt the same thing. It’s almost become instinctual to, at the very least, offer up a quick “Thank You, Father!” or “Please help me, Father!” when situation calls for it.
Such a contrast to what I used to be like! When I was a smug pagan working at a major semiconductor fabrications plant, I used to smirk at this one old gentleman who prayed over literally everything he ate, even if it was a candy bar. I thought he was being ridiculous. It’s just a candy bar, for crying out loud!
I’d love to apologize to him. He never saw me smirking, but God did. I’m so thankful that He grabbed me by the scruff of my feral neck and has tamed me into something maybe not perfect, but better than the wild animal I was. Now I understand that everything–everything down to the last bite of candy, the last sip of soda, my health, my very breath–is a loving gift from the ultimate Giver. I am ashamed to admit I don’t thank Him nearly enough in the course of a day. But by the grace of God, the loving sacrifice of Christ Jesus, and the subtle work of the Holy Spirit, I’m getting better!
Demian, you labeled the man well. Can’t wait to read more of his work…but he is waiting in line at the moment.
Denita, you are always a storyteller with a story to tell. It is a blessing and a visible testimony to God’s work in charging hearts and lives. Thank you!
Wow, Daniel…thanks! I’m inspired by far better storytellers, believe me. One of them has this great blog site…the name escapes me, I think it’s desire spiritual something-or-other…
Thanks for these posts on prayer, Daniel.
I agree with Demian that the line to always respond to the impulse to pray is a wonderful one. I’ve been trying to do this more, and of course, knowing that the impulse itself and the desire to follow it doesn’t come from me but my precious Lord makes the whole experience that much more exciting.
So many questions, my constant need for God’s strength and guidance, and the effects of the recent tragedies in my city have weighed on my heart and drawn me often into a place of prayer…a place that has been healing, teaching, and full of a strength, wisdom, and beauty that is not my own!
Thanks, Daniel. I guess in my response to your other post on prayer, I was unintentionally dismissive of my short, spur-of-the-moment prayers. They come spontaneously and are often no more than, “Thank you, Jesus!”, or “Help me. Jesus!”
As Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, these are “impulses” to which I respond easily and naturally.
Still need to work on prolonged my quiet-time with God each morning though – everyone’s prayers on this goal appreciated.