PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

What is God's will for my life?

Should I stick with my current job, or should I look for other employment?

Should I continue in this difficult relationship, or should I cut ties?

Should I remain silent, or should I speak up? I know I should always tell the truth, but how much of the truth should I tell?

Should I fix curry/rice bowls for dinner tonight, or meatloaf and mashed potatoes?

I have an idea for my next book, but is it the book that God wants me to write? Does He have something different for me instead?

What is God's will for my life?!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Rejoice, pray, give thanks - this is God's will for my life.

...pray without ceasing...

You mean, pray all the time?

How can I possibly pray all the time?! I have meals to prepare, writing assignments to complete, emails to answer, children to parent, appointments to keep . . . I AM SO BUSY. How am I supposed to "pray without ceasing" with so many demands on my time?!

I am learning - finally - that prayer isn't something to be reserved for quiet moments set apart from the chaos of life. Prayer is something I do in the midst of the chaos. I pray during exercise class and at the post office and when I am driving down the road. I pray while I am in a conversation with my daughter and when I am on the phone with a friend. I pray when I write, when I am at the doctor's office, and when I stand in front of the refrigerator and ask myself what to fix for dinner tonight.

I am like a three-year-old at my Father's elbow.

...pray without ceasing...

Once you begin, it's hard to stop.