The Lord’s amazing provision for the children of Israel was fresh bread. They called it manna. Exodus 16:33 says, “…the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Deuteronomy 8:3 says that He humbled them, “…that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”

Our intimate communion with the Lord is our manna that sustains, encourages, corrects, gives direction, and maintains our walk with Him. I love David’s heart’s expressions in Psalm 63.

Verse 1 says, “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirst for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” Psalm 42:1 says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” 

Does your heart cry out with spiritual hunger and thirst? Jeremiah 31:14 says, ”I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”

Do you pay attention throughout the day how you are breathing? Prayer is communion with the Lord throughout the day. It is like breathing. We don’t think about it, it is part of us. Do you ask Him to help you as you go about your day? That’s prayer.

Prayer is acknowledging that we are absolutely dependent on the Lord. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. John 15:5. George Mueller is a great example to us. There was always a need in the operations of his multiple orphanages. 

The children would be sitting at the tables. Plates, silverware, and cups were in front of them. No food. George would pray out loud, and thank the Lord for His provision though there was none in sight. The children learned to depend on the Lord through his prayers.

Actively pray throughout the day in everything that you are about to do, any decision that is before you, before you answer the door, or pick up the ringing phone. Prayer-communion is as essential and natural as breathing. Amy Carmichael said, “You are closer to me than air.”

Prayer is the fruit of a heart filled with the wonder and awe of Who the Lord is. The children of Israel had just passed through the Red Sea on dry ground. In awe they watched as the Red Sea closed in over the entire Egyptian army. 

Exodus 15 was a praise song to the Lord. Verse 1 says, “…I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” Verse 11 says, “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Psalm 145:1 says, “I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever.” Verse 3 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

We can use His word to extol Him. For example, “Lord, I am so grateful that You are my Redeemer and my Sustainer. There is no one like You. There is no one Your equal.” Psalm 19:14, 55:22, Isaiah 40:25.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” James 4:2 says, “…you do not have because you do not ask.”

Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Prayer is acknowledging what is in our heart to the One who knows. It is trusting Him with our burdens, worries, fears, buried emotional pain. 

Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in Him at all times you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Rest is the fruit of trust. We empty our hearts before Him. As we do so, we are declaring our dependence on Him alone.

Prayer is a heart confession of our lack and His ability to meet every need: physical, emotional, and spiritual. His word is our source of confidence. Hebrews 4:16 says that we can come boldly to find grace and mercy for our need. Free access to our High Priest.

1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary’s definition for cease is unceasingly, without remission, and uninterruptedly. In practical application, praying without ceasing does not mean we have no interruptions called life.

Let’s look at praying without ceasing through the lens of not giving up. The widow lady in Luke 18 did not give up. In verse 5 the judge said, “…lest by her continual coming she weary me.” The Lord is available to us at all times. Isaiah 41:28 says that, “…the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.” 

Samuel is a great example for us. 1 Samuel 12:23 says, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…” George Mueller prayed for five men every day for their salvation.

He did not cease praying for them. Four of those men came to the Lord during his lifetime. The fifth came after he died. Who are you praying for? We know we are praying God’s will when we pray for the lost. 2 Peter 3:9.

I asked the Holy Spirit what verse He wanted me to meditate on next. Immediately a verse came to mind. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It says, “Pray without ceasing.” Cease means to stop, halt, discontinue, and bring an action to an end.

Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” The Greek meaning for lose heart is to be faint, be weary, to fail. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” The Greek word here for faint not is the same Greek word in Luke 18:1 for not lose heart.

Do you see the connection? Prayer is a heart action that does good, we will reap if we don’t give up. I encourage you to read again the parable in Luke 18:2-6. Persistence. Endurance. Continuing without giving up.

The Greek word in Hebrew 10:36 for endurance means: constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, patience. It comes from two words “under, and “to remain.” 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego endured a strong set trap luring them to save their lives. Daniel 3:12-23. The Lord provided His way of escape for them that is a testimony for us today. 

Daniel 11:32 says, “…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” King Nebuchadnezzar was in a rage. He threatened them. The three young Hebrew men stood their ground. They declared God as their True Deliverer. 

Daniel 3:17 says, “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”

One of David’s mighty men was Eleazar. 2 Samuel 23:10 says, “He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword…” What a picture for us ~ cling to God’s word in the face of temptations.

James 1:21 says that the implanted word will save our soul. As we bring His pure word into our hearts, our mind, will, and emotions will align with His word. 

All temptations ~ set traps.  All temptations ~ invitations to sin by disobeying God’s way. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

John 14:21 gives us the qualifications for our love. It says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” What purifies our hearts? 

Psalm 19:7-8 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

As we face an unexpected temptation, our defense is His word hidden in our hearts. Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure…” 

Think of Job. Twice God set parameters to what satan could do. The first was not to lay a hand on his person. Job 1:12. The second was he could not take Job’s life. Job 2:6. I think of the song “I Know My Heavenly Father Knows.” Chorus: …He knows the storms that would my way oppose…and tempers every wind that blows.

Paul went through incredible trials. 1 Corinthians 11:23-28. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reveals God’s parameters. It says, “We were hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Paul endured. 2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Jesus endured the cross through the joy that was set before Him ~ us! We have His joy is us. As we endure, He receives all the glory due His name.

The common denominator for trials, temptations, and adversities is that God is Faithful. I started to meditate on 1 Corinthians 10:13. It says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

What comes to your mind when you think of the word overtaken? One night I drove several of us gals to an ice cream parlor. When it was time to leave it was raining hard. I told them to wait and I’d bring my car around. I jumped into my car and started it. Someone rose up from the back seat. At that moment I was overtaken with fear. It was a friend playing a prank.

No trial, adversity, or temptation that we face is announced ahead of time. It is always a surprise and something that stops us in our tracks. I love the words, ‘but God is faithful, who will not allow.’ God Himself sets the parameters.