"Pray without ceasing" - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
Wow, it sounds impossible to do, doesn't it? Does this Bible verse mean that God expects us to pray 24/7? Let's look at some other Bible translations of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and discover how we can apply this to our prayer lives today.
- "Pray continually" (NIV)
- "Pray constantly" (HCSB)
- "Never stop praying" (NLT)
"Pray Without Ceasing" in the Bible
This well-known Bible phrase comes from Apostle Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians. Here is the surrounding text to see this phrase in its biblical context:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
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. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NKJV)
In Paul's writings, words such as "rejoice always" (1 Thess 5:16), "without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17), or "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18) refer primarily to prayer.
In Paul's writings, words such as "rejoice always" (1 Thess 5:16), "without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17), or "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18) refer primarily to prayer. The Christian tradition teaches that unceasing prayer is a proper goal, for spiritual growth comes through such disciple. We can use the simple Jesus Prayer, "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner," to continually pray from the heart seeking God's mercy and grace. To "pray without ceasing" is to live with God in our heart and mind, giving thanks for all things and relying on Him for strength.
What Does It Mean To Pray Without Ceasing?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 is a beautiful text but also one that's often misunderstood. To pray without ceasing does not mean you've got to pray 24/7 and feel guilty for every second you're not praying. Praying without ceasing is about developing a lifestyle of prayer so that you don't just get up in the morning and have a planned time of 10 to 20 minutes, and then you don't pray again until the evening. But it's your way through the day as you move along in the day.
Many prayers will be what the old forefathers called spontaneous prayers that go up in little darts and phrases up to God. Lord, help me with this next task I have to do. Lord, keep from sin now. Lord, help me avoid temptation here in this situation. When we're not backsliding as Christians, we're living close to God, and this kind of prayer life is spontaneous. But when we start to backslide and grow lukewarm, those spontaneous prayers begin to diminish, and we fall away from this lifestyle of prayer that involves praying without ceasing.
Interestingly, in the 19th century, a group of men headed up by John Newton met once a month for theological discussions. They addressed one theological question every month. One of their questions for one month's discussion was: What does it mean to pray without ceasing? They batted it around for about 45 minutes and couldn't come to a satisfactory answer.
Finally, there was a maid who walked into the room and was serving. One of the ministers casually said to this maid girl, this Scottish maid girl, "Maybe you can tell us what it means to pray without ceasing." It's an exciting story, but she said to them, "Oh, sirs, that's no problem. When I get up in the morning, I cloth myself, I pray that the Lord Jesus might clothe me with His righteousness today. When I came down here before you men came and I dusted the furniture, I prayed that He might cleanse me from the filth of my soul. When I set this food and drink before you, I prayed that Jesus Christ might be my meat and drink until life eternal. So, Sirs, I pray my way through the day." I think that's what it means to pray without ceasing.
Is it Possible to 'Pray Without Ceasing'?
Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. We know when we read that; sometimes, we think we know that it means, "Oh my goodness. I shouldn't be doing an interview right now. I should be praying." Or "I shouldn't be reading a book." Or "I shouldn't be eating a meal."
I think what Paul is saying is there's never a time, there's never a circumstance, there's never an aspect of your life that you should not be in conversation with the Lord about, making your requests known, desiring to glorify Him, asking for His assistance. I pray about these times before we did ... well, we prayed together, but I mean, even this morning, I prayed about this. I don't know about you, but in my day, as I walk through my day, there's kind of a dialogue going on. I don't know that I hear Him speak back that much, but I have His word, so I have plenty of that.
I think that praying without ceasing means that you're lifting your whole day up to God. There's not an area of your life, and there's not a time, a season, or a period where you're not regularly repeatedly turning and bringing it to the Lord in prayer. (excerpt from Mark Dever)
5 Simple Ways to Learn How to Pray Without Ceasing
Learning how to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) might sound overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t mean you need to be on your knees 24/7. Instead, it’s about developing a heart posture of constant communication with God throughout your day. Here are five practical and simple ways to make this a reality in your life.
- Start Your Day with God
Before you even get out of bed, take a moment to thank God for a new day. It can be as simple as saying, “Thank You, Lord, for waking me up and giving me this day. Help me honor You in all I do.” Starting your morning by acknowledging Him sets the tone for a day centered on prayer. You can even pair this with a devotional or a quick read from the Psalms to invite His presence into your day. - Turn Everyday Moments into Prayer
Prayer doesn’t have to be confined to a specific time or place. While you’re washing dishes, folding laundry, or driving to work, use that time to talk to God. For example, while cooking dinner, you can pray for your family or thank God for His provision. If you're commuting, pray for the people around you or ask God for wisdom for your day. These small moments are opportunities to keep the conversation going. - Use Breath Prayers
Breath prayers are a great way to stay connected to God throughout the day. These are short, simple prayers you can say in a single breath, like, “Lord, give me peace,” or “Jesus, I trust You.” Anytime you feel stressed, distracted, or just want to refocus, a breath prayer can bring your heart back to Him in seconds. It’s an easy way to pray when words feel hard to find. - Pray for People You Encounter
Every interaction is an opportunity to pray. If you see someone struggling at work, quietly pray for their peace. When you receive a text from a friend, pray for their needs before you reply. Even while waiting in line at the store, you can pray for the cashier or the people around you. It’s a simple way to weave prayer into your day and align your heart with God’s love for others. - End Your Day with Gratitude
As you lie down at night, reflect on your day and thank God for His faithfulness. Think about the blessings, big and small, and the ways He showed up for you. If there were struggles or moments you fell short, bring those to Him too, asking for His grace and strength for tomorrow. Ending your day with gratitude and surrender is a beautiful way to stay in constant connection with Him.
Praying without ceasing is about building a rhythm of prayer into the everyday moments of your life. It doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s about inviting God into your thoughts, your conversations, and your routines. As you practice these simple steps, you’ll find that staying connected to Him becomes second nature, and your relationship with Him grows deeper every day.
Related Resource: What It Really Looks Like to Pray Without Ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs believers to pray without ceasing, but have you ever wondered if this type of continual prayer was possible and if so, how to do it? In this episode of Teach Us to Pray, Christina explains what it means to pray without ceasing and three important ways you can start this life-changing type of prayer today.
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