Rhythm of Life: Embracing the Discipline of Ceaseless Prayer
About a month ago, my four-year-old niece held a dance recital in our living room. Natalie pretended there was an audience of thousands as she performed on stage (aka, in front of the t.v.). The entire family crammed together on the couch, clapping and shouting for our little star to begin dancing. The song, “Mary Did You Know?” began to play, and Natalie jumped up and down with excitement. After a few minutes of spinning and cartwheels, she asked us to turn the music off.
“Everyone fold your hands and close your eyes,” she directed us in a serious manner. So we folded our hands and pretended to close our eyes in anxious anticipation of what was coming.
“Dear Jesus, happy birthday. I love you. Thank you. Amen.” Natalie opened her eyes, looking up at us for approval.
In that moment, Natalie practiced this simple truth: at any time and for any reason, we can talk to the Father. Whether we are in the middle of a meeting, at the grocery, talking with our kids, in the shower, or in the midst of a living-room dance recital; we can talk to God. We have access to the Father 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Somehow, even at four years old, Natalie understands the importance of communing with the Father throughout the day. She reminded me that prayer is not just a task on the to-do list. Prayer is a response to who He is and the love He has already poured out for us on the cross.
Here’s the reality: most people are not going to wake up one day and start praying for hours and hours and hours in one sitting. Introducing prayer as a rhythm of life involves a slow progression of implementation, and development in our relationship with God. Practically, here’s what I mean: if you are serious about wanting to be a person of prayer, start small. Pick a time, a place, and show up. Start with 15 minutes before bed, 5 minutes in the morning or 10 minutes on your lunch break. Declaring a specific, set apart time for prayer is an effective way to develop a prayer routine.
Next, choose where to pray. Whether that be beside your bed, in your office, at the park, or in a closet to get away from screaming children. Choosing a specific place to pray creates a physical space for you to spend time with God.
Finally, show up. Any amount of time that you turn your attention to Jesus, He takes seriously. God the Father is not sitting upon the throne with his eyebrows furrowed, his finger shaking at us, saying, “You are a disappointment to me. You haven’t been spending enough time with me,and you only spent five minutes with me today.” God the Father loves every moment He gets our attention. God is a God of compassion. His heart is tender towards his children. Our Father waits patiently for us to engage with him. Our intimacy with Him is proportional to the amount of time and attention we set aside for Him.
The gift of the Holy Spirit changes the way we are able to encounter God. The same Spirit that hovered over the face of the waters when the earth was without form and void, the same Spirit that rested on Jesus like a dove after his baptism, the same Spirit that Jesus spoke of as The Helper, is the same Spirit living inside of us today. Paul says in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” This is good news! Holy Spirit is our friend, our co-laborer, our teacher, our helper, our comforter, our counselor, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. When you do not know how to pray, what to pray for, or where to start, Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Partnering with the Holy Spirit in prayer is vital for a sustainable prayer life.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I don’t believe this is hyperbole. It is possible to commune with Holy Spirit all throughout the day. We must learn how to keep our heads and hearts oriented toward the Trinity all day.
His grace is sufficient for us (and all the people say “Amen!”). Any small action we take towards becoming people of prayer is a good step. When prayer becomes a task on the to-do list or when it becomes something we feel obligated to do, we are missing the point. We have the opportunity to delight in God’s presence. We have the opportunity to engage with the author of all existence, the creator of everything we know. We have the opportunity to spend time with our Abba, Father. Let prayer become less of a task and more a trait of our being.
When I think about prayer as a rhythm of life, I imagine it sounding like a conversation that never truly ends. It’s the sound of the Father singing over His children, and the children loving Him in return. I believe that little-by-little, minute-by-minute, day-by-day, week-by-week, prayer can become the soundtrack of your life.