As the storm raged, the captain realized his ship was sinking fast. He called out, "Anyone here know how to pray?" One man stepped forward. "Aye, Captain, I know how to pray." "Good," said the captain, "you pray while the rest of us put on our life jackets - we're one short."
John MacArthur: What does it mean to pray without ceasing?
Excerpt:
To “pray without ceasing” refers to recurring prayer, not nonstop talking. Prayer is to be a way of life — you’re to be continually in an attitude of prayer. It is living in continual God-consciousness, where everything you see and experience becomes a kind of prayer, lived in deep awareness of and surrender to Him. It should be instant and intimate communication — not unlike that which we enjoy with our best friend.
To “pray without ceasing” means when you are tempted, you hold the temptation before God and ask for His help. When you experience something good and beautiful, you immediately thank the Lord for it. When you see evil around you, you ask God to make it right and to use you toward that end, if that is His will. When you meet someone who does not know Christ, you pray for God to draw that person to Himself and to use you to be a faithful witness. When you encounter trouble, you turn to God as your Deliverer.
Comment: N.T. references
An acrostic concerning prayer (ACTS) is beneficial: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.
Probably the prayer pattern of most Christians is the reverse: “Gimmi, gimmi, gimmi; thanks; you’re a good God.” Often there is no confession of any sort, and the honest confession is totally missing. It is good for the soul to adjust to the order and emphasis that pleases God.
