Pray without ceasing

Paul counsels us to “Pray without Ceasing”, in 1 Thess. 5:17. Sister White says that if we go one hour without prayer, we will fall into sin. How is this possible? Are we to stay on our knees 24 hours of the day? It is most certainly possible to be in communion with our heavenly Father without ceasing. We can talk to Him as we perform our daily duties maintaining the connection with heaven.

We can also sing songs as we are out and about. Songs are prayers in themselves.
“There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God. . . . In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement, we may send up a petition to God, and plead for divine guidance, as did Nehemiah when he made his request before King Artaxerxes.” SC, p. 99.

“We may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way, and He says, I am at thy right hand. We may commune with God in our hearts; we may walk in companionship with Christ. When engaged in our daily labour, we may breathe out our heart’s desire, inaudible to any human ear; but that word cannot die away into silence, nor can it be lost.

Nothing can drown the soul’s desire. It rises above the din of the street, above the noise of machinery. It is God to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard.” GW, p. 258.

“It is not always necessary to bow upon your knees in order to pray. Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when you are alone, when you are walking, and when you are busy with your daily labour.” MH, p. 510,511.

However we must never neglect private and public prayers. These are different kinds of prayers when all distractions are put aside and we are alone with the Lord. During these times does it matter what position we are in?

Yes, very much so. Here are a few quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy.
“Why not pray as if you had a conscience void of offence, and could come to the throne of grace in humility, yet with holy boldness, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting? Do not bow down and cover your faces as if there were something that you desired to conceal; but lift up your eyes toward the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ your Mediator stands before the Father to present your prayers, mingled with His own merit and spotless righteousness, as fragrant incense.” CT, p. 241.

“And let not those who kneel around the family altar put their faces in their hands close down to the chair when they address God. Let them lift up their heads and with holy awe speak to their heavenly Father, uttering their words in tones that can be heard.” 6T, p. 381.

“Both in public and in private worship, it is our privilege to bow on our knees before the Lord when we offer our petitions to Him. Jesus, our example, “kneeled down, and prayed.” Of His disciples it is recorded that they, too “Kneeled down, and prayed.” Paul declared, “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In confessing before God the sins of Israel, Ezra knelt. Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God.” GW, p. 178.

“Your knees are to bow three times a day in heartfelt prayer.” 6T, p. 298.

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Psalm 95:6. “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph 3:14. “To bow down when in prayer to God is the proper attitude to occupy. . . . Both in public and private worship it is our duty to bow down upon our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him. This act shows our dependence upon God.” 2 SM, p. 312.

“I received letters questioning me in regard to the proper attitude to be taken by a person offering prayer to the Sovereign of the universe. Where have our brethren obtained the idea that they should stand upon their feet when praying to God? One who has been educated for about five years in Battle Creek was asked to lead in prayer before Sister White should speak to the people. But as I beheld him standing upright upon his feet while his lips were about to open in prayer to God, my soul was stirred within me to give him an open rebuke. Calling him by name, I said, ‘Get down upon your knees.’ This is the proper position always.”2 SM,p. 311.

“Is it possible that with all the light that God has given to His people on the subject of reverence, that ministers, principals, and teachers in our schools, by precept and example, teach young men to stand erect in devotion as did the Pharisees? Shall we look upon this as significant of their selfsufficiency and selfimportance? Are these traits to become conspicuous?

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:9-12). Mark you, it was the self-righteous Pharisee who was not in a position of humility and reverence before God; but standing in his haughty self-sufficiency, he told the Lord all his good deeds. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself (Luke 18:11); and his prayer reached no higher than himself.

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:13,14).

“We hope that our brethren will not manifest less reverence and awe as they approach the only true and living God than the heathen manifest for their idol deities, or these people will be our judges in the day of final decision. I would speak to all who occupy the place of teachers in our schools. Men and women, do not stand up in your Pharisaism and offer your prayers to God. Mistrust your own strength.

Depend not in it; but often bow down on your knees before God, and worship Him…

“And when you assemble to worship God, be sure and bow your knees before Him.” 2 SM, p. 313,314.
AMEN.

Compiled by Wendy Eaton