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.

Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” What fragrance are you diffusing around others?

I often use Acts 4:13 as a prayer. It was written about Peter and John. It says that the rulers marveled and, “…they realized that they had been with Jesus.” I want to diffuse the fragrance from my relationship with the Lord to those who know me.

1 Corinthians 10:11 used the word happened. It amazes me to think back to the children of Israel. All that they went through was to be an example for us! Faced with Red Sea impossibilities? What did we learn from them? Exodus 14:13 says, “…Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” Psalm 131:2.

I started meditating on 1 Corinthians 10:11. It says, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the end of the ages has come.”

We have to go back to pick up the context. Paul was reiterating what the children of Israel had gone through. No one was left behind. They all went through the Red Sea. They all ate God’s special provision of manna.

Verse 5 says, “But with most of them God was not pleased…” They were idolaters, sexually immoral and they were complainers. The Lord knew from the beginning that they would disobey~yet He chose them as He chose us. He recorded their examples for us, to warn us to not be like them.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wrote, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” The writer of Hebrews, called out instructions regarding who is to be our examples. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”

Complaining is an effective tool of the enemy of our soul. Why? Complaining opposes God’s ways and will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

We are saved by God’s will. John 1:13 says, “Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” He orchestrates our life according to His will. Ephesians 1:11 says, “…who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

We are predestined to adoption as His children. Ephesians 1:5 says, “…according to the good pleasure of His will.” Romans 12:2 is a command to not be conformed to this world. Rather to be transformed through the renewing of our minds, “…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

As we abide in Him, He will prune away the saplings of our fleshly complaints. He uses the scalpel of His word to penetrate deep to expose, and remove our fleshly diseased fruit.

I was meditating on Philippians 2:14-15. Verse 14 says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Do you seek to please the Lord? Numbers 11:1 says, “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord…”

In the Amplified it says, “And the people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which were evil in the ears of the Lord…” Philippians 2:15 reveals that complaining will dim the light of our witness for Him.

In the Amplified it says, “That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation (spiritually perverted and perverse), among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars of beacons shining out clearly) in the (dark) world.”

How bright is your light when you are in the crucible fires of a hard trial? Romans 5:3 in the Amplified says, “Moreover (let us be full of joy now!) let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.”